FRIW101 Experiential Education and Friluftsliv

Contents and structure

The course explores experiential learning and friluftsliv through three modules; Experiential learning, teacher role, and lastly outdoor education in culture. The course is built up around two multi-day excursions and several day excursions, as well as a student-led learning project. Along the course, the students will move from participants to leaders in learning experiences in nature.

Module 1 Experiential learning, explores experiential learning and related learning perspectives as a teaching method theoretically and practically. After some introductory lectures, the students will reflect on learning in nature on a multiday excursion.

Module 2 Teacher role, explores teaching theories of experiential learning and looks at practical implications for leaders of learning in the outdoors. After some group work and seminars, the students will step into the teacher role and design learning situations for each other on day excursions.

Module 3 Outdoor education in culture is about putting experiential learning in a cultural context, mainly by exploring how it is found in the Norwegian school system. The students will also make comparisons to their home countries' school curricula. This part of the course ends with the students leading a day of learning in nature through the course requirement experiential education project.

The course finishes with a multi-day excursion focusing on coastal friluftsliv and traditions. The students are responsible for designing and leading learning situations individually or in small groups.

Excursions:

• Day and multi-day excursions
• Student planned excursion
• Coastal excursion in sea kayaks

Learning Outcome

After completion of the course Experiential Learning and Friluftsliv, the student will have acquired the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general competency:

Knowledge

The student

1. has knowledge about Norwegian outdoor education traditions and outdoor education in the Norwegian school curriculum
2. has knowledge about experiential learning and related learning theories in outdoor education
3. has knowledge about children’s friluftsliv and nature's impact on children’s development and learning
4. has knowledge about the teacher's role in facilitating learning in natural landscapes

Skills

The student

1. can use pedagogic theory and didactic models to plan, lead and evaluate learning in outdoor education
2. can adapt different teaching methods and teaching styles dependent on the situations demand
3. can facilitate learning through the use of landscape and the learning group as resources

General competence

The student

1. can reflect on their own and others' pedagogic practice and show self-awareness in a teaching role
2. can utilise relevant academic and practical perspectives in implementing learning projects in natural environments
3. can contribute to sustainable and environmentally friendly outdoor education practices

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

Be prepared for overnight excursions in tent and be able to carry a backpack with own equipment on excursions.

Teaching methods

The course consists of a mixture of lectures, group work and individual work. Student active learning forms such as project assignments and presentations are central to the course.

The subject matter will as far as possible be integrated and experienced through practical teaching. Several-day excursions and two multi-day excursions are a part of the course. The students will be involved in planning, executing and evaluating the excursions.

Compulsory learning activities

Excursions: The students will practice their knowledge, skills and general qualification in experiential education through the excursions in this course. The students will be active in planning, executing and evaluating the excursions. The excursions work towards the following learning aims of the course:

• Knowledge 1, Skills 1, 2 and 3, General competence 1, 2, 3

Student presentation: The students will present a theoretical perspective on experiential learning and friluftsliv and implement this in a practical session with their peers as part of module 2 focusing on the teacher role. This course requirement works towards the following learning aims:

• Knowledge 2 and 4, Skills 2, General competence 1 and 3

Experiential education project: Students will work in groups to plan, facilitate and evaluate an outdoor education session. This course requirement allows students to show their theoretical and practical skills in planning and leading learning through experiential education.

• Knowledge 2, Skills 1 and 3, General competence 2 and 3

Assessment

Oral exam. Graded from A-F (A is best, F is failed).

Examination support material

Only what is provided on the exam by the examinators.

More about examination support material