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Mistakes, risk, and learning in outdoor education
Citation
Cure, S and Hill, A and Cruickshank, V, Mistakes, risk, and learning in outdoor education, Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 21, (2) pp. 153-171. ISSN 2206-3110 (2018) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright Outdoor Education Australia 2018
DOI: doi:10.1007/s42322-018-0012-y
Abstract
Within many contemporary social, workplace and sporting contexts, mistakes are often perceived to be negative, resulting in underperformance and something to be avoided. Within education, in contrast, prominent educational researcher Hattie (2012) suggests "mistakes are the essence of learning" (p. 26). For Hattie, the role of mistakes within the learning process needs to be seen as positive. Creating opportunities for students to learn from mistakes through effective feedback is key to raising achievement. Yet in traditional outdoor education, where risky activities are often a central feature, the role of mistakes in the teaching and learning process has seldom been examined. This paper, therefore, explores how secondary outdoor education teachers perceive the notion that mistakes are the essence of learning, and how they view the role that mistakes have in the learning processes in their outdoor education programs. Employing a qualitative approach, the findings of this study emphasise teachers’ beliefs that mistakes are indeed important in the learning process. The inclusion of mistakes and feedback in outdoor education programs is, however, less than clear. Many teachers spoke of constraints such as short duration programs, not knowing students, and risky activities which made it unlikely for mistakes to be welcomed. In contrast one teacher with a yearlong program sought opportunities for students to make mistakes and learn from these through feedback.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | outdoor learning, outdoor education, risk, pedagogy, mistakes, feedback, learning |
| Research Division: | Education |
| Research Group: | Curriculum and Pedagogy |
| Research Field: | Curriculum and Pedagogy Theory and Development |
| Objective Division: | Education and Training |
| Objective Group: | Teaching and Instruction |
| Objective Field: | Pedagogy |
| UTAS Author: | Cruickshank, V (Dr Vaughan Cruickshank) |
| ID Code: | 129259 |
| Year Published: | 2018 |
| Deposited By: | Education |
| Deposited On: | 2018-11-19 |
| Last Modified: | 2019-08-28 |
| Downloads: | 8 View Download Statistics |
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