Exploring Effective Approaches to Outdoor Learning

The first Real World Learning Network conference took place at Slunakov in the Czech Republic, January 2013. Fifty-six people gathered from the countries to explore effective approaches to outdoor learning.

Outdoor learning is widespread across Europe, taking the form of science through to sensory based learning. The conference explored how to create successful outdoor learners. Through keynote speakers, workshops and forums the following questions were debated, discussed and investigated:

• What is the relationship between real world learning and sustainable development?
• What is the role of science in sustainability?
• Which competencies are necessary for a sustainable future?
• How can we make a difference?

Participants took part in workshops around the two key conference themes of: developing competencies for sustainable change; and understanding fundamental concepts of science and sustainability through outdoor learning. Keynote speakers added external views to challenge and inspire, and also to raise key questions during the workshop sessions. The workshops were delivered by the RWL Working Groups on Science and on Green Careers.

Conference participants were also encouraged to present their own workshops.

Read the full conference report here.

Keynote speakers presentations can be downloaded:

Robbie Nicol here.

Katalin Czippán here.

Presentation about the RWL Network.

Presentations from workshops:

Naturalness key here.

Holistic Systems Thinking here.

Common Cause here. Thank you to Common Cause for letting us use their materials. Visit them at www.pirc.info.

Values and Green Careers here.

Green Island here.

Making Complexity Accessible here.