Introduction to Place Based Outdoor Education

Applications

Students at the University of Iceland register for the course in Ugla or by sending an email to the Student Register at nemskra[hjá]hi.is. If the course is full, you can send an email to mvs[hjá]hi.is and register on the waiting list and remember note which course you plan to enroll in.

Professionals in the field have the option of taking the course as an open course, and there is more information and an application page under Sumarnámskeið (Summer Courses).

More information about the course and registration is provided by Jakob F. Þorsteinsson jakobf[hjá]hi.is

There is a material fee and additionaly, students pay expenses for camping, food and travel.

Studenst from Plymouth Marjon University apply by mail to Mark Leather at mleather@marjon.ac.uk
Places on the course are limited, early application is advised.

Student Reviews

"I was very emotional to listening to what stood out in peoples mind at the end of the course. It was great and amazing what impact it had on me to say goodbye to the group. This was the best course I've ever had. Thanks for me. ”

 "In my opinion, this course was great and I felt that teachers approached the subject well and allowed us to experience, enjoy, and think without dropping us into academics and lectures. This is the teaching method that I think needs to be the point of departure. Most memorable for me is to have experienced, enjoyed and learned from our teachers and fellow students. This is the spark we want to bring to our students. I'm looking forward to attending the follow up course."

Course Tutors

Jakob Frímann Þorsteinsson, University of Iceland
Mark Leather, Plymouth Marjon University
Ása Helga Proppé Ragnarsdóttir, University of Iceland

This course is run as a collaboration of the University of Iceland and the Outdoor Learning team at Plymouth Marjon University and is supported by Siglunes Watersport Centre, Oceancluster, Reykjavik Maritime museum, The Icelandic Lighthouse Society and Reykjavík City Museum.

Asessment

1) Processing your reading - individual task

All students should be well read before the study session begins in August. The reading material is on Canvas or will be send to students by mail if you asked for. We will use and discuss the reading material, so it is important to be familiar with the material. Each student must submit a ½-1 page description of what is place based education and refer to at least three sources, together with 3-4 questions or reflections from the reading material. Return two days before the study session begins in August in a return box and bring a printout copy when we go to island Viðey.

We will then use the project in discussions during the study session and visit the project at the end of it.

2) Place-placed outdoor education in action – a group task

On the final day of the course, the students in groups lead lessons for their fellow students. The project is carried out outside in groups with about 5 students in each group.

Each group is responsible for leading a lesson or experience for 40 minutes for fellow students, where the methods of place-based education are applied.

After the implementation, each group writes a report on its program along with a reasoned self-evaluation with a grade.

The final grade for the project is a combination of self-evaluation and teacher evaluation.

3) Research essay – individual task or work two together

Select and research one socio-historical cultural theme about Reykjavik or Icelandic heritage as a place that has been influenced by seafaring (sailing, shipbuilding, trade, exploration and history). The subject of the essay needs to be linked to place based education and discuss in what way it can be utilized in practice (e.g. in school, leisure, youth work or tourism).

The scope is 4-6 pages (2500-3500 words), written in third person, follow APA rules.
 

4) A reflective analysis of your experience – individual task

Making sense of place based outdoor education: a personal account

Think about your personal experience of the course and your relationship with e.g. sailing, seashore, coastal culture, maritime heritage or anything else that has caught your attention and write about how you make sense of this!

Write 1^st person – 1000-1500 word 

a)     Write an analysis of experience in an organized and structured  manner.

b)     Write academically – citing all sources (books, journal and websites used) and provide a reference list at the end. Use Wattchow & Brown (2011) on Place Based Pedagogy in your writing.

This part of the assessment is intended to give students the opportunity to critically reflect on the process and challenges encountered in the course that have been recorded in a journal (or in other way) and put in context with the your past experience and the reading material. Critically view your feelings and thoughts and put them in a meaningful context. Associate your writing with past experience and express it creatively (e.g. in writing or in image form).