Outdoor Education in STEM: Connecting Community and Curriculum

An innovative course offered by UBCx

Course Description

"Outdoor Education in STEM: Connecting Community and Curriculum" is an innovative and engaging course designed to empower educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to seamlessly integrate outdoor education into their existing STEM curriculum. This introductory-level course focuses on providing teachers with practical resources and techniques to create meaningful connections between students' learning experiences and their local communities, all while operating within limited budgets.

What Students Will Learn

  • The significance of outdoor education and its real-world applications for students
  • Techniques to transform familiar outdoor spaces into rich learning environments
  • Methods to incorporate sustainability topics through outdoor education
  • Strategies for integrating outdoor education across various subjects
  • Creation of inquiry-based learning activities tailored to outdoor education and regional contexts
  • Incorporation of First People's Principles into science and outdoor education
  • Identification and utilization of relevant curriculum resources
  • Development of cross-curricular connections between outdoor education and core competencies, science, math, and ADST

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites for this course. It is designed for educators at all levels who are interested in enhancing their STEM curriculum through outdoor education.

Course Coverage

  • Introduction to outdoor education and its importance in STEM
  • Techniques for bringing outdoor education into the classroom
  • Place-based and land-based learning approaches
  • Inquiry-based activities and student-centered learning
  • Integration of sustainability topics and environmental connections
  • Incorporation of First People's Principles in outdoor education
  • Cross-curricular connections and curriculum enrichment
  • Resource identification and utilization for outdoor education
  • Strategies for student engagement and hands-on learning
  • Innovative teaching methods for outdoor classroom activities

Who This Course Is For

This course is ideal for K-12 educators, STEM teachers, curriculum developers, and educational administrators who are looking to enhance their teaching practices and create more engaging, relevant, and meaningful learning experiences for their students. It is particularly beneficial for those interested in innovative teaching methods, student-centered learning, and incorporating nature into their teaching practices.

Real-World Applications

  • Create more engaging and relevant learning experiences for students
  • Foster a deeper connection between students and their local environment
  • Develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills through inquiry-based activities
  • Promote environmental awareness and sustainability
  • Enhance cross-curricular connections in their teaching
  • Implement cost-effective outdoor education activities
  • Incorporate diverse perspectives, including First People's Principles, into their curriculum
  • Prepare students for real-world challenges by developing practical skills and environmental literacy

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Art in Engineering

  • Understanding the importance of outdoor education
  • Relating outdoor education to STEM topics

Module 2: Bringing the Outside Inside

  • Learning about outdoor education and STEM from within the classroom
  • Exploring various activities to bring outdoor education inside

Module 3: Place-Based and Land-Based Learning

  • Distinguishing between place-based and land-based learning
  • Finding resources to teach First People's Principles knowledge of the land