The place and approach of outdoor learning within a holistic curricular agenda: development of Singaporean outdoor education practice

• Published in: Journal of adventure education and outdoor learning Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 181 - 192
• Main Authors: Atencio, Matthew, Tan, Yuen Sze Michelle, Ho, Susanna, Ching, Chew Ting
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 03.07.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Barriers; Change Strategies; Community Influence; Cultural Context; curriculum change; Curriculum Development; Educational Methods; Educational Needs; Educational Objectives; Educational Opportunities; Educational Planning; Educational Policy; Educational Practices; Faculty Development; Foreign Countries; Holistic Approach; holistic learning; Institutional Characteristics; Outdoor Education; Pedagogy; Place Based Education; place-based learning; Professional development; School environment; Singapore; Singapore education; Strategic Planning; Teachers; Teaching Methods; Singapore
• ISSN: 1472-9679; 1754-0402
• DOI: 10.1080/14729679.2014.949807

This paper details the potential contribution of outdoor education (OE) in Singaporean education given the recent raft of national curricular reforms aimed at fostering holistic and exploratory learning opportunities. In this context, we contend that increasing recognition of the value of OE, both internationally and locally, heralds specific challenges within unique Singaporean educational conditions that must be taken into account for this subject area to flourish. In particular, we seek to distil the ways in which local community, cultural and school conditions signal the need for a more place-based and contextualised version of OE. Our analysis further addresses the need for adequate professional development frameworks to be installed in order to enhance existing local teachers' capacities to substantially educate pupils through the outdoors, within a Southeast Asian urban context.