A case study of outdoor education : implications for New Zealand schools : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements Masters in Education at Massey University
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Date
2003
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Massey University
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Abstract
This descriptive case study explores outdoor education, one of the key learning areas in the Health and Physical Education in the New Zealand Curriculum. It is a single site case study based on an Intermediate School's end of year camp programme and explores the teachers', students' and parents' before and after perceptions related to the camp experience. The methodological tools used were teacher interviews, student and parent questionnaires, field notes and teachers' logs. The focus of the study and the analysis of the data were based on a number of themes: teacher, parent, and student expectations, personal and social development, learning about self, others and the environment, transfer of learning, safety in the outdoors and the use of outside providers at residential outdoor centres. The results of the study suggest that teachers and parents have similar expectations of a camp experience for the students: fun and enjoyment, teaching of outdoor skills, environmental awareness, a concern for safety and the use of the outdoors as a leisure outlet. This study showed that the students' expectations have a far greater focus on fun and enjoyment and social aspects and less on the learning of outdoor skills and environmental awareness. The findings of the study put a focus on the importance of transfer of learning and impact of a residential camp experience on the development of friendships and social relationships as well as the management of safety and use of outside providers, in instructing outdoor pursuits activities with Intermediate School students in a residential outdoor setting.
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Keywords
Outdoor education, New Zealand, Physical education, New Zealand, Intermediate school students