Learning in the outdoor classroom: Integrating nature, mobile technology, and constructivist learning to support young children
Date
2015-12-18
Authors
Loeppky, Liane
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Young children are spending less time than their parents in unstructured outdoor nature play, due to safety concerns, overscheduling, and academic pressure. They are spending more time indoors engaged in sedentary activities such as television viewing and game play. The increased availability of mobile devices in homes and schools is raising concerns among many groups that exposure and usage of these devices are causing delays in the cognitive, social, mental, and physical development of young children. This paper reviews research on children’s screen time and usage, as well as the importance of unstructured outdoor play. It then examines ways to take mobile devices outdoors with children in kindergarten and grade one as a tool for documentation, collaboration, and exploration.
Description
Keywords
outdoor classroom, mobile technology, kindergarten