Learning from the land The course focuses on direct experiences in Icelandic nature and the natural sciences, with an emphasis on volcanology and glaciology; fire and ice. The course is suitable for those who intend to organize study and field trips in Icelandic nature, e.g. those who work in schools or aim to work in schools, leisure work or tourism. The course settings will be used to examine the educational concepts outdoor education, nature interpretation, life education and vocational studies, and the tourism studies concepts mountain tourism, climate tourism, science tourism and social tourism. Coordinated social responses to natural disasters and security issues will also be addressed. The setting of the course will be recent volcanic sites in Reykjanes and Breiðamerkursandur in the Vatnajökull National Park, which provides an opportunity to contextualize the sustainable coexistence between man and nature, with special emphasis on volcanic eruptions, glaciers, climate change, extreme weather, natural disasters and natural hazards. The core of the course is a four-day journey in the second week of June. We will travel by bus, stay in hostels and take hikes in the nature of Iceland. Participants will be partly responsible for contributing to shared meals. They also need to be prepared for outdoor activities. There is emphasis on reflective practice based on perceptions and experience as well as that participants can enjoy traveling in nature at a slow pace. A preparatory meeting will be held in the end of May. The main themes of the course are related to nature, education and tourism, and how to approach these aspects with responsibility and safety. The topics of the course will be examined in view of the following concepts: dynamics, diversity, interactivity and, last but not least, processes – and how experience and reflection intertwine with these themes. More information about dates and time in the syllabus: Fire and ice – Force of nature, education and experience Collaboration, learning and land as a co-teacher Learning takes place from morning to evening, exploring the unclear borders between teaching and learning, and between learning from the environment, other people and the journey itself. The course is a development project connecting parties from e.g. the School of Education, University of Iceland, the Research Center Hornafjörður and Austur-Skaftafellssýsla Secondary School. Assessment The assessment emphasizes that students are able to reflect on their experiences and place them into context with theoretical topics introduced in the course and their previous experiences. Students will also work on projects where they connect the topics, and their own experience and knowledge to real life practices. This can e.g. take place within schools and leisure activities, social affairs, tourism or research. Registration and cost Students at the University of Iceland register for the course in My Owl / My Ugla or by sending an email to the Student Register at nemskra[hjá]hi.is. If it is full, you can send an e-mail to mvs[hjá]hi.is and register on the waiting list. Professionals in the field in Iceland (e.g. teachers, leisure educators, national park rangers and guides) have the option of taking the course as an Open course / Opin námskeið. The course is also open students in the Aurora European University programme and a special portal for application will be opened soon. More information about the course and registration is provided by Jakob F. Þorsteinsson jakobf[hjá]hi.is Participants will have to pay travel, accommodation and food expenses. Teachers An interdisciplinary team of experts and teachers will be involved in the course, and we intend to invite professionals from the areas visited to join the course, with special emphasis on purposeful presentations, conversations, perception and reflection. Jakob Frímann Þorsteinsson, University of Iceland Þorvarður Árnason, Research Centre Hornafjörður Kolbrún Þorbjörg Pálsdóttir, University of Iceland facebooklinkedintwitter
