Subject: Outdoor Classrooms & Systems Thinking

Posted by Kirk Meyer on 1/14/2010

Message:

Hello Everybody,

I’m an activist trying to make the case for using schoolyards as an educational resource. An outdoor classroom might typically have gardens, habitat areas, renewable energy demonstrations, water flow systems, weather stations, compost bins and so on – in short, a mini-ecosystem with lots of opportunities to grasp the fundamentals of systems thinking. By learning experientially (from primary source materials) many students have “aha” moments that would not come through the study of texts and diagrams. At the very least, the “everything’s related to everything else” realization will re-enforce key concepts taught in the indoor classroom. This type of hands-on learning is too often thought of as merely supplemental at best and a nuisance at worst. I understand that we are in a time of slavish adherence to very limited and linear standardized achievement tests as a way to “prepare students for the 21st century workforce”. Although I must admit I bristle at using workforce development as a motivation for teaching 2nd graders, the fact of the matter is that future jobs will actually go to those students who grasp a systems approach to problem-solving, learn how to work together and communicate in groups, and see how abstract concepts can be applied to real world situations. I can tell you that student engagement in the outdoor classroom is off the charts (my own empirical analysis of thousands of smiling faces!) although “hard” research on student achievement is yet to be done.

My organization would like to see outdoor classrooms installed and used in 100,000 schoolyards across the U.S. and I’m wondering if anyone on this listserv could point me toward systems thinking resources, or examples on the ground, that would bolster our advocacy efforts. BTW, there are similar national efforts taking place in the U.K., Sweden, Norway, Canada, Australia and beyond. I think our success would be a great boon to systems thinkers everywhere and would help to foster generations of citizens focused upon the complexities of creating a sustainable and peaceful planet. OK, I’ll get off my soapbox but would appreciate any tips or advice folks might have. Thanks.

P.S. I really enjoyed the first nation learning models submitted here and forwarded them to several colleagues. Having just seen the movie Avatar in IMAX 3D I found myself wondering what other indigenous people around the galaxy are up to!

Peace, Love and Compost,

Kirk Meyer/Executive Director
Green Schoolyard Network

Follow Ups:

Outdoor Classrooms & Systems Thinking - Jim Duggan 1/14/2010 
Outdoor Classrooms & Systems Thinking - Bill Braun 1/14/2010