Outdoor education : the effects of outdoor learning on student success

Abstract

This project focused on involving students more in the outdoors as part of their regular classroom curriculum. Outdoor educational activities, as well as guest speakers from the community were used to supplement current curriculum. The purpose was to investigate student motivation and attitude towards learning science, their opinions of being outdoors and outdoor learning, and level of concern for the environment. Students participated in water quality monitoring at a local stream, learned about native Montana wildlife in a greenhouse at our local community garden, went on a nature hike, and collected and identified macroinvertebrates at the Woodson Ranch in Laurin, Montana. Results showed that student interest and attitudes towards the outdoors, as well as test scores, increased significantly after being exposed to outdoor learning.