Outdoor Education: Literary Education and Sensory Experience : an Attempt at Defining the Identity of Outdoor EducationKinda Education CentreUtgåva 31 av Skapande, vetande, ISSN 0284-1266

The authors make an attempt at defining the concept of outdoor education, and wish with this publication to initiate a forum for discussion. First, an outline is given of outdoor education's educational, historic and pedagogic roots in advocating the "knowledge of the hand" and an older pragmatic tradition of ideas. The purpose has been to make use of the possibilities of outdoor education in educational institutions. Particular stress is put on outdoor education's importance as a motivating factor for life-long learning, health and quality of life in an ecologically sustainable society. The methods of outdoor education are based on making concrete firsthand observations possible in the outdoor classroom. Since outdoor education is thematic and crosses levels and subjects, its upholders have varied educational backgrounds. This also applies to outdoor education as a field of research and education. The authors also attempt to illustrate the distinctive character and the forgotten possibilities of the outdoor classroom. The message is to create context and understanding in meaningful situations together with a fellow-discoverer tutor by bringing to life concepts such as practical wisdom, learning by doing and knowledge in action.