Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Students will learn the principles and practices for teaching, developing, planning, and leading, Outdoor Education classes, trips, and programs. Emphasizes backcountry travel best practices, wilderness leadership techniques, teaching methodology, hard and soft skills. Teaching processes include lecture, discussion, group projects, peer teaching experiences, practical skills sessions, experiential and expeditionary learning.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will be delivered remotely.  Students will be expected to meet online in group discussions and work in collaborative groups. Online meetings will take place on Saturdays at a scheduled time which will be determined based on feedback from students.

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The course is designed for future teachers and outdoor educators. It will focus on how to best bridge theory and practice in consideration of the subject of outdoor education and preparing students enrolled in the course to become Outdoor Leaders given the current constraints. As Outdoor Educators students are embarking on a journey that leads to continual growth and development. The course will focus on developing a foundation students can build upon as they develop their practice. It will explore Outdoor Leadership and the new BC Physical and Health Education curriculum. Introduction to Outdoor Education will use the new PHE curriculum to introduce principles and practices for teaching, developing, planning, and leading, Outdoor Education classes, trips, and programs. Outdoor Education and Leadership are about providing challenging learning experiences, which engage students in a holistic way. A fundamental aspect of Outdoor Education is the development of a positive relationship between students and the natural environment. A growing amount of research demonstrates the positive physical and mental health effects of having students spending time outside in nature. This course emphasizes pedagogy, backcountry travel best practices, physical literacy, wilderness leadership techniques, and teaching methodology. Teaching processes include on line lectures, discussions, group projects, and peer teaching experiences.

Please note: This is not what was originally envisioned for the course. Like all other SFU courses and the K-12 system we are doing our best to adjust to the challenge of using an online platform to try to best meet the needs of our students teaching a curriculum which is based on collaboration, creating community, students being active, and developing a sense of place, without meeting face to face. The course will evolve weekly and there will be some changes as new technologies and opportunities are developed and we adapt to our new reality. Due to the constraints of online learning and circumstances out of our control at this time we will not be able to offer students the original experiences and certifications that were planned. As a result, there will be no activity fee.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the new PHE curriculum and Outdoor Education 11 and 12.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the positive effects of nature and the outdoors on physical and mental health.
• Demonstrate the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude, of an effective Outdoor Educator.
• Demonstrate basic elements of planning, teaching and assessing safe and pedagogical learning experiences, including field and over-night outings.
• Demonstrate an understanding of strategies, skills, and best practices for teaching Outdoor Education.
• Understand types of pedagogy, skills, and knowledge necessary for teaching Outdoor Education in a variety of environments.
• Demonstrate how to meet the needs of diverse groups of learners in Outdoor Education.
• Understand professional ethics in outdoor leadership.
• Develop a personal meaning of wilderness.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the 7 principles of "Leave No Trace"
• Demonstrate environmental awareness and stewardship in outdoor recreation and conservation.
• Identify ways in which humans experience, relate and respond to natural environments, including indigenous relationships with the land.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING: