Learning inside a classroom can turn mundane after some time. The primary purpose of the school is to prepare the student for life, not just for the examination. Gone are the days when classroom activities were considered sufficient. But with global rejig in various facets of life, outdoor education has become more critical today.
It is about experiencing what they see and read in their books. The real-life applications of theory can make students learn independently and make significant decisions later in life. Challenging and exciting experiences can help a more profound understanding and adoption of life skills. The students go on to become self-reliant, mentally strong, and healthy. Read about the myriad benefits of outdoor learning for students here.
Makes Learning More Engaging
If you take the students outside for learning, it will engage them more. It can be difficult to make students concentrate while sitting in class. It can be a mundane activity. When it is nice and sunny, no one would want to sit inside an artificially cooled classroom and stare at the blackboard. Take the instance of a mathematics class.
Memorizing formulas and tables may get boring at one point in time. However, if you take them outside and ask them to count the number of fruits or flowers, they will happily oblige and in the proper manner. Moreover, students can learn about distances and do time calculations based on their chosen track in the games court. Thus, outdoor learning engages all the senses, not just the eyes and ears.
Develops Learning Through Exploration
Science is one subject that has a direct connection to nature. If you want students to learn about scientific concepts, they must be outside. Take the example of the climate or the identification of bird calls. You cannot emulate them in a classroom. Even if you manage to bring in videos and recordings, you cannot give the same experience. Thus, most schools take kids outdoors in camping vehicles. It is one of the favorite activities that students love to engage in. Additionally, you will find them asking questions. That is when you realize that they are learning.
These vehicles are more appropriate today due to the multiple facilities they offer. Now, your staff can even cook healthy meals on board. That is something very cumbersome in a typical school bus. And if it happens to rain all of a sudden, you can take them in and carry on the learning session indoors. Allow the children to find their answers amidst nature’s bounty. You can always give them reference material later on.
Nurtures Imagination
The more the children imagine, the more creative they get. You have to make their brains work. If you conduct classes about fairies and elves inside the classroom, they may doze off to sleep. Most schools are taking students for tours to castle ruins. That is where they can listen to audio guides and connect the dots of the stories they heard back at school. You will be amazed at how they will start weaving stories around the castles, the fairies, and elves soon.
Improves Attendance in Class
The moment you start taking outdoor sessions, you will see the class full. Children would not want to miss out on that chance on outdoor exploration. The outdoor education system is a huge motivational factor for students of all ages.
Improves Cognitive Development
Outdoor activities stimulate the sensory organs in multiple ways. The scent of flowers, and the chirping of birds, can awaken the multisensory world. It also helps to sharpen attention. It is especially true for younger children who have difficulty focusing. There are various physiological benefits as well. You will find them less stressed. Children who learn more in outdoor sessions also display better planning skills and multi-task. All in all, it enhances the capabilities of the brain.
Keeps Them Healthy
No matter how far or near you take the students for their experiential learning, they will be working more. The more they move their limbs, the more strength they will gain. Moreover, sun exposure is an essential factor in outdoor learning. And why not? It helps them to manufacture more vitamin D, that is why. Fresh air is also good for the lungs and respiratory development. These are just a few of the myriad benefits of their physical health.
Builds Social Skills
You will find students sitting next to their best friends in a classroom. Once you take them out, you can divide them into different groups. It will teach them to get out of their comfort zones, which is usually not possible at school. Therefore, children learn to depend on their judgment and also intermingle with others, whom they do not interact with, daily. This will translate into excellent soft skills at work in the future.
You can start incorporating outdoor or experiential learning into your school curriculum. It will prepare the students for a life, which is independent and stimulating at the same time.
