�Learning Beyond Classroom: the Future of Education�“A Paradigm Shift…”

Dr. Sanjukta Padhi

Assistant Professor,

School Psychology,

G. M. University, Sambalpur Odisha

“Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms”.

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The famous Chinese proverb was quoted in the Kothari Education Commission Report, 1964 as “The destiny of India is now being shaped in her classrooms.”

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A Paradigm Shift…

Learning beyond classroom ??????

What ?

🡪 Does learning take place outside of formal settings? 

🡪 Can teachers be found who are teaching outside of the classroom?

🡪 Is it relevant?

In the ever-changing today’s world, there are various methods and styles of teaching and learning. Education has seen multiple developments and innovations due to the advent of technology. Classroom education is the traditional type of teaching method usually followed by various countries.

• The purpose of school is to prepare students for life beyond school. Today's society has a higher demand for self-awareness and more specialized skills. One of the easiest ways to help advance students is by incorporating learning experiences outside the classroom. Taking classroom learning outside can help enrich a student's educational experience by showing them real-life applications of theories that they are learning at school.  ��

Learning beyond classroom simply means to providing young learners with challenging, exciting and different experiences to help them learn away from their normal and formal classroom setting.

Learning outside the classroom is a broad term that includes: outdoor play, school grounds projects, environmental education, recreational and adventure activities, personal and social development. Outdoor Learning does not have a clearly defined boundary but it does have a common core. It can provide a dramatic contrast to the indoor classroom. Direct experience outdoors is more motivating and has more impact and credibility.

Where?

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Our large outdoor area is secure and offers excellent opportunities for both formal and informal learning and play.�

Learning outside the classroom can happen at almost any time and almost anywhere – outdoors or indoors: in the school grounds, on the high street, in the local park, in museums and art galleries, on mountain tops and rivers, in remote places, or elsewhere in the world. The ‘places’ where learning happens can have a significant effect on how a young person engages with a subject or an idea.

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Why ?

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• Isn’t it interesting that the many years spent teaching children within classrooms are intended to prepare them for a life that is beyond the classroom walls?

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• Lets therefore recognize a gap in the conventional learning methods which is set in a classroom where the teacher holds the monopoly on all academic knowledge and learning occurs through repetition and memorization of textbook theories.

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……why?

• This reality is why many youngsters may still find themselves ill-prepared for the real world even after graduating.
• Not only should children be given the opportunity to learn through hands-on activities, but they should also be invited to be more active and engaged in their own learning process. This way we will be grooming a generation of life-long learners.
• Lets give them opportunities for discover their own potentialities, their personalities, their surroundings. Let them engage themselves in the learning process to have a more authentic learning,

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…why?

• Learning beyond classroom is a tool for teaching and learning which has been proven to raise attainment and achievement, improve behaviour and improve the engagement of all groups of pupils, including those who are hard to engage inside the classroom environment.

• Learning beyond classrooms can make students achievers in their life as it builds their personal and social skills. Outside learning makes you independent in your learning process. Outside learning creates interest in the various subjects of the academics, and this keeps the students engaged in their studies, develops their life skills.

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…why?

• Active learning readily develops the learning skills of enquiry, experiment, feedback, reflection, review, communication, problem solving, an enterprising attitude and cooperative learning – to name only some of the benefits. Learning outside the classroom can help to bring many school subjects alive as they focus on real results and consequences. For that reason the outdoors can have an impact on areas of the curriculum as diverse as imaginative writing and moral education. Learning outside the classroom also provides experiential opportunities allowing pupils to respond positively to opportunities, challenges and responsibilities, to manage risk and to cope with change.

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…why?

• Quality learning experiences in ‘real’ situations have the capacity to raise achievement across a range of subjects and to develop better personal and social skills. When these experiences are well planned, safely managed and personalised to meet the needs of every child they can:

Learn…play…relate and innovate..

🡪 Improve academic achievement.�🡪 Provide a bridge to higher order learning.�🡪 Develop skills and independence in a widening range of environments.� 🡪 Make learning more engaging and relevant to young people.�🡪 Develop active citizens and stewards of the environment.�🡪 Nurture creativity.� 🡪 Provide opportunities for informal learning through play.� 🡪 Reduce behaviour problems and improve attendance.� 🡪 Stimulate, inspire and improve motivation.� 🡪 Develop the ability to deal with uncertainty.�🡪 Provide challenge and the opportunity to take acceptable levels of risk.� 🡪 Improve young people’s attitudes

How?

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• Learning outside the classroom should be built into planning for all learners, every week and all year round. It is a powerful tool that is proven to raise attainment, boster social, emotional and personal development and contributes to the health and well being of children and young people.

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…how?

• Introduce competition. ...
• Introduce collaboration. ...
• Connect to their world. ...
• Plug into technology. ...
• Get parents involved. ...
• Get students involved.
• Field Trips.
• Service Learning and Community Engagement.
• Study Abroad.
• Technology Outside the Classroom.
• Place-Based Learning.
• Assessment of Field Experiences.
• Resources for research on Experiential Learning.

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any problem???

• There are of course disadvantages to teaching outside. These are all points that can be overcome, but they will require additional work. 
• Health & Safety regulations – As a teacher you are responsible for the children in your class. There are certain health and safety regulation that you must follow to ensure the safety of your pupils and yourself. The health and safety executive (HSE) legislation can be found h 
• Additional paper work – Rise assessment plans, consent and evaluation forms will be required your school should already have school forms you can use. 
• Following curriculum requirements – For some subjects such as maths or science it can be difficult to study outside and maintaining the curriculum requirements. It could be as simple as taking your class onto the school field.

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• Weather– Not having the correct clothing when the weather takes a turn for the worst could prevent outdoor activities. In this case you can remind the children the day before to bring appropriate clothing for the outdoors.
• Supervision – The UK Department for Education state that the school is responsible for assessing and managing the risks. To find out more . 
• Natural Hazards such as Bee’s or uneven ground – as long as the appropriate health and safety aspects have been adhered to you do not need to worry about these types of accidents. It is inevitable that something will happen e.g. a child tripping over a stone. You will need to check out the area you are visiting beforehand so you will already be aware of the potential hazards. 

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Lets conclude…..

• As we are all aware, education is more than the acquisition of knowledge. Improving young people’s understanding, skills, values and personal development can significantly enhance learning and achievement. Learning outside the classroom is not an end in itself, rather, we see it as a vehicle to develop the capacity to learn. It provides a framework for learning that uses surroundings and communities outside the classroom. This enables young people to construct their own learning and live successfully in the world that surrounds them.
• There is strong evidence that good quality learning outside the classroom adds much value to classroom learning. It can lead to a deeper understanding of the concepts that span traditional subject boundaries and which are frequently difficult to teach effectively using classroom methods alone. It provides a context for learning in many areas: general and subject based knowledge; thinking and problem-solving skills; life skills such as co-operation and interpersonal communication.

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• Learning outside the classroom provides support for many different curriculum areas. For example, all young people have an entitlement to do fieldwork as part of their geographical studies. Linked to the curriculum, these activities provide direct and relevant experiences that deepen and enrich learning.

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not all classrooms have walls….

Teach your kids to explore ,live, laugh, learn, and always reach for the stars.

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Thank You