Research Insights: Applying Research to Your Work and Life
The AEE Journal of Experiential Education Webinar Series
Research Insights: Applying Research to Your Work and Life
Ever wondered how the latest research can actually help you in your work? Each session in this webinar series will introduce you to a different Journal of Experiential Education (JEE) published researcher, who will take you on a deep-dive into their research article and provide key takeaways and practical strategies to incorporate into your work. This series is open to all, you do not need to have prior research knowledge or a specific education level to participate and learn.
Hosted by Joanna Bettmann Schaefer, Ph.D, LCSW | Editor in Chief of the JEE, Professor at The University of Utah College of Social Work
SESSION 2 | Wednesday, April 30 | 3-4PM ET
Journeys to Far-Away Places: Wrestling with the Sustainability of Outdoor Education in Higher Education
Free for AEE Members | $10 Non-members
Guest Researchers:
Morten Asfeldt, University of Alberta, Canada
Simon Kennedy Beames, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Norway
Jannicke Høyem, Norway, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Norway
Chris North, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Background: Over 35 years ago, the Brundtland Report entitled Our Common Future shed light on the impacts of human behavior on the environment and raised global awareness about sustainability. Since then, sustainability has become a prominent issue influencing most spheres of life including outdoor education (OE).
Purpose: This inquiry seeks to identify the necessary conditions for justifying OE travel to far-away places.
Methodology: We investigated this question using practitioner inquiry and thematic analysis.
Findings: The authors believe some far-away journeys can be justified and recommend that these journeys are guided by featuring learning objectives that are best learned in specific far-away places; maintaining strong connections to the students’ everyday lives; including high levels of student involvement in sustainability-related decisions; and through providing novel and unexpected experiences that are unlikely to occur locally. Finally, we believe there is a case to be made for longer rather than shorter journeys.
Implications: We caution against developing a binary which pits local OE against journeys to far-away places. Rather, both local and far-away journeys have an important role to play in OE programs that aim to build a world that is more socially and environmentally just.
AEE Members can read every research article in the JEE for free! Find your link in your member compass.
SESSION 2 | Wednesday, April 30 | 3-4PM ET
Journeys to Far-Away Places: Wrestling with the Sustainability of Outdoor Education in Higher Education
Free for AEE Members | $10 Non-members