ERIC Number: EJ1041049
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Aug-10
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1990-3839
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Perceptions about Forest Schools: Encouraging and Promoting Archimedes Forest Schools
Nawaz, Haq; Blackwell, Sarah
Educational Research and Reviews, v9 n15 p498-503 Aug 2014
The aim of this study was to find out parents' and children's perception of outdoor learning programmes with specific reference to Archimedes Forest Schools, known as Forest Schools. A review of existing research showed that there had been no rigorous evaluation of perception of forest schools. The study was conducted in the UK and mixed method design was used taking into account ethical reconsiderations. The findings of this research highlighted the importance of forest schools for children and showed enough evidence as to why parents must allow their children to attend forest schools. Listening to parents' and children's voices can inform understanding of their perceptions and opinions about Forest Schools and contribute to wider discourses on how forest schools sessions and programmes can be improved to meet specific individual and group needs. The research team did not find any evidence to prove that high risk is involved when sending children to forest schools sessions and programmes but found enough evidences that forest schools increase children academic, physical and social performance when attended over a long period of time. Additionally, it helps to improve the connection between children and nature and contributes to their positive attitude towards the environment.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Outdoor Education, School Attitudes, Mixed Methods Research, Questionnaires, Interviews, Focus Groups, Student Attitudes, Parent Attitudes
Academic Journals. e-mail: err@academic.journals.org; e-mail: service@academicjournals.org; Web site: http://academicjournals.org/journal/ERR
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A