The desire to learn as a kind of love: gardening, cooking, and passion in outdoor education

TY - JOUR

T1 - The desire to learn as a kind of love

T2 - gardening, cooking, and passion in outdoor education

AU - Wistoft, Karen

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - ‘Haver til Maver’ is an organic school gardens project at Krogerup farm in Northern Sealand, Denmark, which provides children with first-hand experiences in a natural, outdoor environment. The general intention of the project is to expand children’s competences and their knowledge of nature, farming and food preparation. This article draws on a new evaluation of ‘Haver til Maver’ based on qualitative as well as quantitative studies carried out by education researchers. The evaluation shows very positive learning benefits linked to experience and enjoyment. The outdoor learning programme and environment represents a unique addition to the national curriculum of the Danish state school system, providing the possibility of interdisciplinary and enjoyment-based learning. One of the main conclusions is that the pupils who participate in the ‘Haver til Maver’ programme develop a desire to learn. A number of the competencies they develop relate directly to the subject of science, as well as other school subjects such as Danish, maths, history, environmental and health education. Parents confirm the learning benefits and view ‘Haver til Maver’ as a unique supplement regular school teaching. The experience dimension and a certain communication of love on site provide one possible explanation as to why the desire to learn is stimulated among the pupils

AB - ‘Haver til Maver’ is an organic school gardens project at Krogerup farm in Northern Sealand, Denmark, which provides children with first-hand experiences in a natural, outdoor environment. The general intention of the project is to expand children’s competences and their knowledge of nature, farming and food preparation. This article draws on a new evaluation of ‘Haver til Maver’ based on qualitative as well as quantitative studies carried out by education researchers. The evaluation shows very positive learning benefits linked to experience and enjoyment. The outdoor learning programme and environment represents a unique addition to the national curriculum of the Danish state school system, providing the possibility of interdisciplinary and enjoyment-based learning. One of the main conclusions is that the pupils who participate in the ‘Haver til Maver’ programme develop a desire to learn. A number of the competencies they develop relate directly to the subject of science, as well as other school subjects such as Danish, maths, history, environmental and health education. Parents confirm the learning benefits and view ‘Haver til Maver’ as a unique supplement regular school teaching. The experience dimension and a certain communication of love on site provide one possible explanation as to why the desire to learn is stimulated among the pupils

KW - Green education

KW - Outdoor learning

KW - Competence development

KW - Adventure education

KW - Passion of love

KW - Experience

U2 - 10.1080/14729679.2012.738011

DO - 10.1080/14729679.2012.738011

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1472-9679

VL - 13

SP - 125

EP - 141

JO - Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

JF - Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

IS - 2

ER -