Christopher D. Johnson from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga took their course and connected it to nature. During Johnson’s Lilly Conference online entitled “An Experiment in Outdoor Learning in the Time of COVID,” Johnson described intentional outdoor activities and coursework. Johnson cited Ken Bain’s new book Super Courses to mention how deep learning can take place outside of the classroom. This book is next on my reading list! Johnson and colleagues spoke about how the course they designed never met on campus. This two-hour class met each Tuesday at a trailhead and then discussed the readings… and the hike. There were two co-instructors. The last seven weeks of the course were facilitated by pairs of students designing the activities… and hikes. The course was graded based on three components: participation, discussions, weekly journal about the experience and reflections, and a final paper.
The instructors explained that the majority of participants attended the hikes. They did mention that distancing was an issue since students did “bunch up” at points during the hike. It was difficult to assess the discussions. Pacing was also difficult: some students walked faster than others. Johnson talked about the “tangible interaction with topics” that “encouraged their personal buy-in into the course.” Students learned about their local environments, religious issues, and from guest speakers. Johnson also explained how students interacted more with each other and their instructors. Students became familiar and more comfortable with each other. The word spirituality in the course may not have been helpful. The instructors are considering other names. I had not considered “outdoor learning,” and Johnson encouraged making assignments and outdoor activities connected to the course goals. While the instructors did not have student evaluation data yet, they did mention that several students talked about how this course structure and experience “kept them sane,” which speaks to the importance for mental health of outdoor learning during the time of COVID. I wonder when things get better if I can include a trip to the compost unit, a walk around campus, and more as part of the courses I teach.
