The Battle with the Indoors

The battle with the indoors is real. It’s easy to be inside, there’s temperature control and all kinds of other modern conveniences. In just 60 seconds the kettle boils and in just two clicks of a remote we are whisked away to an alternative world via Netflix. Now it is important to state that there is nothing wrong with any of these things and we are lucky to have access to such comforts. However, the lure of the indoors is often overwhelming and stops us from spending enough time outdoors, in nature, focused on our surroundings and each other.

Schools are no different and teachers face the same conundrum, it’s often easier to stay indoors in the short run. Yet, the benefits of outdoor learning are well worth the short time upheaval of getting everyone out. Often, pupils focus better and learn more outside. The academic evidence is mounting to prove what many of us know from our own outdoor learning experiences.

 

 

Tests and more tests

The pressure for pupils to achieve targets and prepare for standardised tests is a huge weight for teachers. The reality is that the effectiveness of teachers and schools themselves is judged on test results and external inspections. Teachers feel like they must compromise on varied and balanced learning to meet test requirements. And yet, we all know that an educator’s worth is so much more than a list of results. They can inspire a lifelong love of learning, support pupils through all that life throws at them and prepare them for adulthood.

A significant part of connecting pupils to the world is through real life application, hands on learning and by providing opportunities for creative thinking. There is no better place for this than the outdoor classroom, and sadly for many there is little time to spare on the timetable for outdoor learning.

 

 

Indoor versus outdoor learning

Learning can happen anywhere, they say we learn something new every day through our lived experiences, and it’s true! The things that truly stick with us are the things we see, feel and experience. That’s where outdoor learning has a huge advantage over learning in a traditional classroom set up.

Disclaimer time, there is a time and place for everything and an indoor classroom, science lab or pottery workshop to name but a few, can all be valuable learning spaces. Bear with us though and consider the magic of seeing how plants grow through a season of planting, weeding and harvesting instead of learning from a diagram or a video. Imagine learning geometry by drawing life-size shapes on the playground in chalk instead of on the confines of a single piece of paper. These experiences stick with pupils and help concepts take hold, all while getting fresh air, working on social skills with others and learning perseverance and patience.

The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, the academic papers. The latest research shows that pupils who spend a significant amount of time outdoors during the school day, achieve highly in tests and their overall well-being is considerably higher.

 

 

A call to action

This is the time to adjust your schedule just a little bit and include more time outdoors in your lesson plans. Get creative and think of ways to engage pupils with their surroundings and see what happens. You might just find you (and they) like it!