Balancing Balancing the Natural World & the Natural World &

the Technological the Technological World World

with our Inner with our Inner WorldWorld

By Melanie By Melanie Van ZwietenVan Zwieten

Would You Kindly Would You Kindly Introduce YourselfIntroduce Yourself

Now Lets Answer Now Lets Answer The Real Question …The Real Question …

What is Stopping Us What is Stopping Us from Knowing Who We from Knowing Who We

Are?Are?• Busy SchedulesBusy Schedules

• Media TechnologyMedia Technology

• UrbanisationUrbanisation

(Pergams & Zaradic, 2007; Lehrer, 2009; White, n.d.)

Imagine …Imagine …

• Reduced memory Reduced memory

• Reduced self-controlReduced self-control

• Loss of emotional Loss of emotional controlcontrol

Cognitive DeficitsCognitive Deficits

(Lehrer, 2009)

DisconnectedDisconnected

Prevents Internalisation

of Life Experiences

Prevents us from Learning

from our experiences

Lose Touch with our

Inner-Selves

(Hall, 1997; Seaman & Gass, 2004)

World of a ChildWorld of a Child

FaceBook

Mobiles

E-mailsChat Rooms

MySpace

Text Messages

MSN

School

PLANPLAN

REFLECTREFLECT ACTACT

OBSERVEOBSERVE

David Kolb’s David Kolb’s Experiential Learning Experiential Learning

TheoryTheory

(Healey & Jenkins, 2000)

It’s the Thought That It’s the Thought That Counts…Counts…

It is not an individual It is not an individual who has an experience, who has an experience, rather it is experience rather it is experience

that results in the individualthat results in the individual

(Zink, 2005)

Imagine …Imagine …

Outdoor Education Aids Outdoor Education Aids ReflectionReflection

Outdoor Education loosens daily Outdoor Education loosens daily distractions and enhances self distractions and enhances self

awareness.awareness.

(Zink, 2005)

Reflection – Outdoor Reflection – Outdoor CampCamp

“I started thinking

about things”

Self-Discovery

Over-come

negative self-

beliefs

Discover strengths & abilities

Self-Efficacy transfers to

daily life(Lehrer, 2009)

Experiential Experiential Approach: Approach:

Rock Climbing Rock Climbing ChallengeChallenge

ReactionReaction

Frontloading, Questioning and Frontloading, Questioning and Debriefing Debriefing

Connections and MeaningsConnections and Meanings

Attitude & Behaviour ChangeAttitude & Behaviour Change

Transfer to LifeTransfer to Life(Alvarez & Stauffer, 2001)

Facilitate ItFacilitate It

Lesson PrinciplesLesson Principles

Skills MetaphorsSkills Metaphors

LifeLife

(Parry, 1997)

Benefits of Self Benefits of Self Reflection:Reflection:

• Problem solving skillsProblem solving skills• Self-discipline Self-discipline • Responsible risk takingResponsible risk taking• Physical, emotional and social maturationPhysical, emotional and social maturation• Access and express emotionsAccess and express emotions• Personal and interpersonal skillsPersonal and interpersonal skills• Skills to make better choicesSkills to make better choices• Life changes one needs and wantsLife changes one needs and wants• Behaviour is a symptom of other issues Behaviour is a symptom of other issues • Personal strengths and weaknesses Personal strengths and weaknesses • Self-concept, sense of empowerment & resiliencySelf-concept, sense of empowerment & resiliency

(Russell, 2001 )

The Question Remains The Question Remains ……

(Lehrer, 2009)

Balance Technological Balance Technological World World

& Natural World& Natural WorldThe key is to find The key is to find ways to alleviate ways to alleviate

the psychological the psychological damage of urban damage of urban

living whilst living whilst still preserving its still preserving its unique benefitsunique benefits. .

(Lehrer, 2009)

Sense of PlaceSense of Place

(Bridle, 2004; White, n.d))

Research Shows Research Shows ……

Even a patch of nature Even a patch of nature holds benefitsholds benefits

(Lehrer, 2009)

Balancing the Balancing the Technological World with Technological World with

the Natural Worldthe Natural World• Engage StudentsEngage Students• Computer Competence Computer Competence • Stimulus for Reflection Stimulus for Reflection • Greater Self-AnalysisGreater Self-Analysis• Appeal to a Diverse Appeal to a Diverse Range of LearnersRange of Learners

(Houghton, 2007 & White, n.d.)

Blog: Blog: Online JournalOnline Journal

PowerPoint: PowerPoint: Connected ClassConnected Class

http://www.smilebox.com

Postcard: Postcard: Who I AmWho I Am

Scrapbook: Scrapbook: School SeasonsSchool Seasons

Slideshow: Slideshow: Self StorySelf Story

E-Cards: E-Cards: This made me think of This made me think of

YouYou

Invitation: Invitation: Time to ReflectTime to Reflect

Encourage Reflective Encourage Reflective ThinkingThinking

Stimulate cognitive processes before,

Stimulate cognitive processes before,

during and after learning experiences

during and after learning experiences

Teach

able

Momen

ts

Teach

able

Momen

ts Encircling &

Encircling &

Surrounding Surrounding ExperiencesExperiences

Ask the Right

Ask the Right QuestionsQuestions

Don’t Give Them The Don’t Give Them The AnswersAnswers(Seamon & Gass,

2004)

Fundamentals of Fundamentals of Outdoor EducationOutdoor Education

Give students Give students anan

opportunity toopportunity toderive their derive their

ownownmeanings andmeanings and

understandingsunderstandings

Reflection

Generalisation/ Application

Self-RelianceResponsibility

Respect

Experience

(Bunting, 2006; Healey & Jenkins, 2000)

Lets take the advantages from bothLets take the advantages from bothThe Natural World and The Natural World and

The Technological World, The Technological World,

& mould them into learning experiences& mould them into learning experiencesthat maximise student learning,that maximise student learning,

growth and personal developmentgrowth and personal development

ReferencesReferencesAlvarez, A.G & Stauffer, G.A. (2001). Musings on adventure therapy.

The Journal of Experiential Education, 24, 2, 85-91

Bridle, A. (2004). Reflections on the Impact of Technology on Outdoor Experiences. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, February, accessed 22/03/2009 from http://www.voea.vic.edu.au/publications/journeys/technologyoutdoors_bridle.html

Bunting, C.J. (2006). Interdisciplinary teaching through outdoor education. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL

Dickinson, S. (1996). What does it mean to be outdoor educated?(1). Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, February, accessed 22/03/2009 from http://www.voea.vic. edu.au/publications/journeys/outdooreducated

_dickinson.html

Hall, A. (1997). Practical approaches to programming primary school outdoor education. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, February, accessed 22/03/2009 from http://www.voea.vic.edu.au/publications/journeys/primaryoutdoored_hall.html

Healey, M. & Jenkins, A. (2000). Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory and Its Application in Geography in Higher Education, Journal of Geography, 99, 185-195

Houghton, E (2007). Book Review: Reconnecting Children through Outdoor Education – A Research Summary, Journeys, viewed 16/02/2009, http://www.voea.vic.edu.au/shop/ReconnectingChildren_Review.pdf

Lehrer, J. (2009). Nature Essential for the Brain, Scientists Report. Children & Nature, 02 January, accessed 22/03/2009 from http://www.children andnature.org/news/detail/nature_essential_for_the_brain_scientists_report/

Parry, S. (1997). What does it mean to be outdoor educated?(2). Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, February, accessed 22/03/2009 from http://www.voea.vic.edu.au/publications/journeys/outdooreducated_parry.html

Pergams, O. & Zaradic, P. (2007), Kids picking TV over trees. The Nature Conservancy, 28 June, accessed 16/02/2009, http://www.childrenandnature.org/news/detail/kids_picking_tv_over_trees/

Russell, K.C. (2001). What is wilderness therapy? The Journal of Experiential Education, 24, 2, 70-79

Seaman, J. & Gass, M. (2004). Service-Learning and Outdoor Education: Promising Reform Movements or Future. The Journal of Experiential Education; 27, 1, 67-86

White, F. (2007). Seattle area Teens go wild - for nature. Children & Nature, 07 August, accessed 22/03/2009 from http://www.childrenandnature.org/index.php?/news/detail/seattle_area_teens_go_wild_for_nature

White, R. (n.d.), Interaction with Nature during the Middle Years: Its Importance in Children's Development & Nature's Future, accessed 16/02/2008, http://www.whitehutchinson.com/children/articles/nature.shtml.

Zink, R. (2005). Maybe what they say is what they experience: Taking students words seriously. Australian Journal of Outdoor

Education, 9,2, 14-20