Enhancing collaboration and a holistic approach in teacher training education with tablet-assisted experiential outdoor adventure education
: Tomi Kärki, Heli Keinänen, Marianna Hoikkala, Hanna Niinistö
: Hannu L. T. Heikkinen, Josephine Moate, Marja-Kristiina Lerkkanen
: Jyväskylä
: 2014
: Enabling Education - Proceedings of the annual conference of Finnish Educational Research Association FERA 2013
: Research in Educational Sciences
: 66
: 167
: 186
: 978-952-5401-68-4
: 1458-1094
This article investigates teacher training students’ (N = 88) perceptions of how the principles and conceptions of learning and instruction connected to experiential outdoor adventure education were present in a tablet-assisted adventure event. The event was organized as a part of the integrated studies of subjects and themes in basic education, i.e. a study unit providing the students with the professional skills to teach the obligatory primary school subjects. Using qualitative content analysis, we examine students’ essays on the event. Moreover, we consider the relations between outdoor adventure education and experiential education (Erlebnispädagogik) as well as the concepts of well-being and teaching excellence. The adventure event with its authentic and functional challenges was regarded as experiential outdoor adventure education, since it required student collaboration, promoted personal development and learning in social context, and supported the holistic approach. Implications for well-being and quality teaching were observed.