Course Objectives

Students will:

- Gain a theoretical and experienced-based foundation for the dissemination of outdoor education.

- Gain a reflected view with regard to which values and pedagogical possibilities outdoor education has to offer.

- Receive an introduction to pedagogy’s problem areas and facts.

Further, students will within a chosen practical area of specialisation further develop their skills and gain an increased insight into pedagogical and didactic problems, so that they will be able to carry out trips on a professional level together with a group.

Course Description

• Outdoor life’s pedagogical values and possibilities.
• The learning concept – knowledge in action, situational learning, experience-based learning, apprenticeship learning.
• The group as a social phenomenon and as a teaching and learning method.
• Didactic and methodological issues related to the dissemination of outdoor education.
• Outdoor activities as a teaching and learning method in various types of schools, organisations and institutions.
• The outdoors as a vehicle for teaching and learning in the fields of culture and the natural environment.
• Planning, execution and evaluation of pedagogical plans in the natural environment.
• Skills, trip norms, basic procedures and safety issues.
• The role of the guide, aspects and functions.

Students will choose practical specialisation from the following: coast – sailing or waterways.

Coast – sailing, specialisation I, skills and knowledge:

• Planning trips, safety, responsibility and consequence analysis. Rescuing members of the group. Getting ready for the sea. The leader’s responsibility.
• Using boats: rowing, sailing, load and trimming, choice of harbour and mooring, manoeuvring, sharing tasks and roles and basic procedures etc.
• Skerries and navigation.
• Guiding, planning and execution of pedagogical plans.
• Maintenance of boats, equipment, rigging and sails.
• Coast nature and coast culture.

Waterways, specialisation I, skills and knowledge:

• Planning trips, safety, responsibility and consequence analysis. Getting ready to use the canoe. The guide’s responsibility.
• Using canoes: Paddling canoes on calm water and in rapids, choice of route on calm water, inspection of rapids, choice of route in rapids.
• Lifesaving: rescuing oneself in calm water and rapids.
• Guiding, planning and execution of pedagogical plans.
• Waterways nature and culture.

Learning Methods

The course is taught in the spring semester.

Teaching and learning methods include independent work, study groups, excursions (1 day), practice (5 days), practice seminar, outdoor school (5 days) and a trip with a guide along the coast or the waterways (5 days). Trips, excursions, practice, seminars and outdoor school days are obligatory.

Assessment Methods

Individual written examination, three days home examination with graded marks. In order to receive a diploma students must first have participated actively in all the obligatory instruction, submitted approved practice reports and approved portfolios in their chosen specialisation.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean