Early Childhood Education Teachers’ Perception of Outdoor Learning Activities in the Spanish Region of Extremadura

Jorge Rojo-Ramos, Fernando Manzano-Redondo, Sabina Barrios-Fernandez, Miguel Angel García-Gordillo and José Carmelo Adsuar
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Jorge Rojo-Ramos: Social Impact and Innovation in Health (InHEALTH) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Fernando Manzano-Redondo: Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Sabina Barrios-Fernandez: Social Impact and Innovation in Health (InHEALTH) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Miguel Angel García-Gordillo: Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca 3467987, Chile
José Carmelo Adsuar: Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-12

Abstract: Over the years, it has been demonstrated that nature is a very important pillar in learning. Outdoor education is an innovative pedagogical approach that is gaining prominence and brings numerous benefits to the students who receive it. Previous studies have tried to show the positive relationship between education and nature and its benefits for children, but only a few reports refer to the specific perception of teachers on this issue, as well as possible differences according to the location of the school. Thus, taking into account the research questions, this paper aims to identify, analyze, and interpret the perception of early childhood education teachers in the Spanish region of Extremadura about outdoor educational practices. For this purpose, attention is paid to the implementation, difficulties, training, or area in which these outdoor educational practices take place, considering the location of the school. Findings showed that teachers are aware of the benefits of outdoor education, but most of them have not received specific training on it, perceive difficulties in carrying them out, or only carry them out at school. As a result, some differences can be perceived depending on the location of the school. Therefore, these results should make us change our perception of education and be able to propose alternatives, involving all the agents and participants of the education system and being aware of the benefits of outdoor education.

Keywords: outdoor education; education practices; teaching (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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