Escapade : outdoor education training for prospective teachers

Abstract

This dissertation is primarily intended to document various aspects related to outdoor, adventure and environment education. Moreover, it also treats the significance of the subject matter within the Maltese educational system. The methodology adopted is a combination of qualitative and quantitative research; the former consisting of a semi-structured questionnaire in order to gather statistical data from third and fourth year B.Ed University students. From a total of two hundred questionnaires distributed, forty one were returned hence the percentages reflect the population of forty one respondents. The qualitative approach was intended to collect more in depth information through interviews of a semi-structured nature from parents, and teachers. From the findings that emerged 90% of prospective teachers have participated in outdoor pursuits throughout their education and 95% feel the need to be trained in outdoor education. 22% consider outdoor education as being different from the traditional classroom environment and 44% suggested that outdoor education should be part of the schools' weekly plan. This research also attempts to shed light on some of the reasons why outdoor education is still lacking, the main reason being the absence of adequate outdoor education programmes in teacher training courses which should provide different subject teachers with various options through which outdoor education can be applied to their subjects.