Outdoor Education Commons^™

Listening To Children: Perceptions Of Nature And Biophilia At Mountain School, Donald J. Burgess, Jolie Mayer-Smith

Donald Burgess

This exploratory study investigates children’s perceptions and experiences of nature during a residential outdoor environmental education program and contributes to an understanding of how nature experiences arouse biophilia, a love of life and all living things. How can we promote a responsible attitude and caring view of the earth and its inhabitants among young people? Limited research suggests that contact with the natural world, especially during middle childhood, occupies a surprisingly important place in a child’s emotional responsiveness and receptivity.

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Factors Of Beginning Teachers' Development Within A Mentor-Based Induction Program, James Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was a quantitative, correlational study that examined the impact of the mentor component of a mentor-based induction program on three factors of new teacher development and support. The focus of this study was on beginning teachers participating in a district-supported mentoring program designed to support and acclimate teachers to the role of professional teacher as well as to support and acclimate teachers to the policies, procedures, and culture of the district. A convenience sample totaling 130 teachers at a large urban school district in southeast Georgia participated in this study. The participants represented varied levels of degree completion ...

Walking As Ontological Shifter: Thoughts In The Key Of Life, Bibi (Silvina) Calderaro

All Graduate Works by Year: Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

With walking as ontological shifter I pursue an alternative to the dominant modernist episteme that offers either/or onto-epistemologies of opposition and their reifying engagements. I propose this type of walking is an intentional turning towards a set of radical positions that, as integrative aesthetic and therapeutic practice, brings multiplicity and synchronicity to experience and being in an expanded sociality. This practice facilitates the conditions of possibility for recurring points of contact between the interiority perceived as ‘body’ and the exteriority perceived as ‘world.’ While making evident the self’s at once incoherence with it-self, it opens to a space ...

Student Knowledge Of Environmental Factors In The Dominican Republic, Nicole Sandretto

The Exposition

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Student Engagement Based On Intercollegiate Athletics Participation, David Woolever

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The concept of retention in higher education institutions is certainly a hot topic. Institutions have explored first year seminars, engagement with faculty and creating a culture of connectivity and belongingness among the student population to include extra-curricular activities in creating an engaged student that will persist until graduation. Furthermore, academic engagement among student-athletes is one topic that has that has been somewhat neglected while institutions look at ways to increase retention via creating a culture of involvement. In addition, the Student Engagement Instrument (SEI), initially designed to measure engagement among secondary students has rarely been utilized to examine academic engagement ...

Cultural Self-Identification Among Extension Educators' And Cultural Competence In Cooperative Extension, Ruddy Y. Benavides

Public Access Theses and Dissertations from the College of Education and Human Sciences

As immigration and globalization are increasing, the number of people in our country who speak more than one language is also increasing (Center for Public Education, 2012). These trends are creating needs for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students and families in schools, specifically, the need for culturally responsive pedagogy and culturally competent teachers. In addition to formal educational contexts, non-formal educational contexts such as Cooperative Extension need to adapt to cultural changes as well. The purpose of this study was to explore the personal beliefs and professional experiences of present Extension Educators (EEs), and the techniques they practice in ...

New Design Principles For Mobile History Games, Owen Gottlieb

Presentations and other scholarship

This study draws on design-based research on an ARIS–based mobile augmented reality game for teaching early 20th century history. New design principles derived from the study include the use of supra-reveals, and bias mirroring. Supra-reveals are a kind of foreshadowing event in order to ground historical happenings in the wider enduring historical understanding. Bias mirroring refers to a nonplayer character echoing back a player’s biased behavior, in order to open the player to listening to alternative perspectives. Supra-reveals engendered discussion of historical themes early in the game experience. The results showed that use of a cluster of NPC ...

Letter From The Editors, Jeffrey L. Pellegrino, Emily Oliver, Don Marentette

International Journal of First Aid Education

No abstract provided.

Response: Do We Believe In Fairy Tales?, Wiebe De Vries

International Journal of First Aid Education

No abstract provided.

Response To “A Call For Revolution In First Aid Education”, Dr. Paul Ho

International Journal of First Aid Education

No abstract provided.

A Call For Revolution In First Aid Education, Jeffrey L. Pellegrino, Emily Oliver, Aaron Orkin, Don Marentette, Paul Snobelen, Joanna Muise, Joe Mulligan, Emmy De Buck

International Journal of First Aid Education

No abstract provided.

Through The Phoropter: A Reflective Analysis Of One Practitioner’S Attempt To Sequence Social And Emotional Learning Competencies Into An Experiential Learning Program, Stephanie A. Globus-Hoenich

Capstone Collection

This capstone is a reflective analysis of social and emotional learning programming and its implementation in traditional Western schools. It approaches the question of sequencing social and emotional competencies for instruction through experiential learning. Initially I sought a linear rationale in order to better understand my work in implementing a social and emotional learning program in nearby Keene, New Hampshire through High 5 Adventure Learning Center’s Edge of Leadership program. However, my inquiry shifted in light of several ethical implications that arise from the prospect of constraining social and emotional learning into a pre-set curriculum.

As a Course-Linked Capstone ...

Transformational Leadership For Growth In Changing Times, David Kooharian

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

“Transformational Leadership for Growth in Changing Times” is a personal exploration into a leadership style that is both humanizing and effective. As a parent, artist, teacher, and counselor I have developed a personal form of leading without understanding what I was doing. After researching leadership styles I discovered that what I had been doing was backed by a recognized theory of leadership called Transformational Leadership.

The keys to Transformational Leadership include: Idealized Influence. Leaders behave as role models demonstrating high ethical standards and moral conduct. They are consistent and provide a feeling of confidence that obstacles can be overcome. The ...

Developing A Curriculum Framework For Field Studies Using Experiential And Environmental Educational Theory, Nicole Gautier

SMTC Plan B Papers

Abstract

Experiential and environmental education are educational philosophies with significant overlap. Experiential and environmental education are mutually supportive, and linked through five key components, (a) direct experience, (b) place, (c) learning community, (d) critical investigations, and (e) purposeful outcomes. A literature review demonstrated shared purpose and similar pedagogies. These similarities were used to define experiential environmental education. Field studies programs, educational expeditions defined by direct experience and investigations of place, are an effective way to put experiential environmental education theory in to practice. Curriculum frameworks are an educational tool used to develop specific curricula aligned with theoretical objectives. The key ...

An Important Scholarly Exercise: What It Takes To Write A Valuable Book Review And Why, Charles F. Howlett Ph.D.

Faculty Works: Education

So, you’ve been asked to write a book review. Consider it an honor, not a burden. Younger scholars, in particular, often consider reviewing an onerous task detracting from their own scholarly research, interests, and desires, or that it takes up too much time. But I would argue that there are important benefits to be derived from writing book reviews. One of the most notable is that reviewing books not only expands one’s personal library of learning, but it also fosters disciplined reading habits. Failing to read and report on books deprives scholars of one of the academic opportunities ...

Lacuna: Transcendence Of The Human Body Through The Space Between, Anica Bottom

Honors Theses and Capstone Projects

This essay examines the author’s choreography, Lacuna, and research integral to its representation. During the choreographic process, experimentation of how the human body moves in relation to different architectural space was observed. In collaboration with the cast of dancers, cohesion of personal experiences in particular locations was evaluated: specifically, investigation of how environments has the ability to trigger habits or patterns of movement from both past and present experiences. A closer look at how the body responds on a visceral level to the physical and emotional sense of place is described. Although the choreographic piece, Lacuna, came to be ...

The Impact Of A Science Field Camp Experience On Students' Learning Of Environmental Concepts, Madison E. Brown

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Environmental education has garnered progressively more attention in recent years as global concerns of climate issues and conservation become increasingly prevalent. Educating young students is essential to developing a generation of stewards that are knowledgeable of their environmental impact and motivated to incite positive change in their surroundings. Using a mixed-methods study, a quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted to evaluate the Creek Critters class as part of the residential program at the Ozark Natural Science Center. Students attending the program were given pre-and post-assessments that evaluated their knowledge of the concepts of water quality and benthic macroinvertebrates discussed at ...

A Retro Development In Education: Evaluating The Feasibility Of Integrating Place-Based Education Into Mississippi Curriculum Standards, Colby K. Mcclain

Honors Theses

This thesis evaluates the feasibility of integrating place-based environmental education activities from Think Green, Take Action: Books and Activities for Kids into the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) Frameworks for Science and Social Studies for K-5. As children develop and experience the world, their ability to understand and interpret the surrounding environments expand; however, Mississippi schools are not focused on experiential environmental education, even though experiencing and understanding the surrounding environment is vital in fostering eagerness to learn. Due to a growing disconnect between humans and the natural world, this thesis examined 37 place- and environment-based activities for children ...

An Exploration Of Participant-Facilitator Relationships: An Introduction And Application Of The Learning Relationships Indicator To High 5 Adventure Learning Center’S Edge Of Leadership Program, Anne Louise Wagner

Capstone Collection

The relationships between participants and facilitators must be considered as an influential component of any learning experience. Because each relationship type leads to different outcomes, educators of all kinds should map the ideal relationship path for their participant groups. This can be determined based on objectives of the learning experience as well as the participants’ current skills and abilities.

Using the works of theorists who showcase participant-facilitator dynamics paired with my own experiences at High 5 Adventure Learning Center, I have created a Learning Relationships Indicator. This tool is designed to provide awareness of the different relationships fostered within a ...

Sensation Seeking Among Experienced Whitewater Kayakers, Lisa Marie Ivester

Masters Theses

Whitewater kayaking is an adventure sport that has been continuously growing in popularity (Brymer, 2010). A better understanding of the risk involved could assist programmers, marketers, and decision makers in the future. This study explores sensation seeking in experienced whitewater kayakers. Demographic variables such as age, sex and skill level are studied to make conclusions about risk perception. Kayakers were recruited nation-wide via social media to participate in a survey involving sensation-seeking and demographic questions. The study consisted of 409 participants who completed the self-identifying survey. Past sensation-seeking literature pertaining to adventure sports suggests that there is a correlation between ...