Environmental Outdoor Education

 

expand this section  Expand All

close this section  Collapse All

 
Main Description show detail >>
 
 
 
Department: Health & Leisure Studies Module Code: ENVR71004
Level: Level 7 Contact Hours: 62
Duration: 1 Semester Directed Study Hours: 120
Effective Term: 2013/14 Indep. Study Hours: 118
Credits: 15

Prerequisite Knowledge:

  Learners will have personal competence in living/travelling or engaging in sports in a natural environment (canoeing, sailing mountain walking etc.). Learners will have some understanding of the natural environment derived from working in one or more habitats found in the Irish countryside.

Module Description/Aims:

  This module is designed to provide the learner with a detailed knowledge of the abiotic and biotic factors that have shaped the landscape and communities of organisms into the array of habitats encountered in Ireland today. The module will prepare the learners for significant engagement in environmental education studies as part of a curriculum programme or a broader outdoor education programme. Environmental stewardship and advocacy will be key themes in the module.  


 
Contact Hours show detail >>
   
 
Contact Type Hours
Lecture24 Per Module
Lecture8 Per Module
Practical/Workshop24 Per Module
Practical/Workshop6 Per Module


 
Learning Outcomes show detail >>
   
 
On successful completion of the module, the learner will be able to:
No. Description/Learning Outcomes
1Describe, compare and contrast the wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic habitats encountered in Ireland.
2Develop skills and strategies for the identification of the dominant flora and fauna in major Irish habitat groups
3Work as part of a teaching team on an Irish curriculum environmental education fieldtrip.
4Identify the likely impact of an OE activity in a given habitat, and identify strategies to minimise that impact.
5Describe the biological history of Ireland, particularly since the last ice age, which has resulted in the current Irish flora and fauna.
6Interpret the geological and climatic factors that have shaped the physical landscape.
7Express a personal world view of environmental education and its connection to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and be able to justify tier own engagement with the natural world as part of their OE practice.


 
Learning Strategies show detail >>
   
 
Learning Strategies
Formal lectures will be used to guide the learners through the foundations of theory associated with this module. These will be delivered in conjunction with relevant field trips (see 3 below) in 2 day lecture/fieldtrip bundles.
Online lectures will be available throughout the term to provide guidance on material suitable to be delivered in this format.
Field trips will be conducted to visit the habitat groups covered in theory sessions: coastal/freshwater, woodlands, peatlands and grasslands.
A one day seminar will create opportunities to explore Environmental Education in Ireland and its interaction with UNESCO's programme of Education for Sustainable Development. Guest speakers from the world of Environmental Education will present.
Learners will work, through directed learning, to build their Environmental Education practice by working alongside skilled staff at their workplaces or by initiating Environmental Education programmes and activities at those workplaces.
Learners will be engaged in self-study activities: reading, researching, collaborating and exploring aspects of teaching and learning outdoors.


 
Indicative Syllabus Content show detail >>
   
 
Content Detail
Beological and climatic historyThe rock foundations
Recent climatic history
The Ice Age and subsequent arrival of man
Recent history and human influence on the landscape
Standardised Scheme for describing habitats in irelandAfter Fossitt (2000)
Features inherent in irish HabitatsLakes and Rivers
Coastal Habitats
Mountain & Upland Habitats
Peatlands and Wetlands
Deciduous and coniferous forests
Farmlands
Cities, towns and villages
Leave No Trace & codes for Outdoor Ethics
The role of Environmental Education in UNESCO's model of ESD
Methodology & TechniquesMethods and techniques used in sampling and taxa
Habitat Survey Methods
Analysing Sample Data
Describing habitats and their communities of organisms.


 
Assessment Strategies show detail >>
   
Assessment Strategies


 
Indicative Assessments show detail >>
   
Learning Outcome Assessment Category Assessment Method Additional Information % alloc
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6Continuous AssessmentFieldworkThe learners will submit detailed written reports from their practical field trips. Each report will require demonstration that the learner understands the relationship between the biota present and the abiotic factors (geology, hydrology, management) pertinent to the habitat in question, as well as a description of the main biotic features of the habitat. 30
2, 3, 4, 6, 7Continuous AssessmentPortfolioThe learners will develop a portfolio of material generated from their analyses of programmes and activities at their workplace and from potential activities to be developed by the learner. The portfolio will include: 1. a record of the OE activities and a diagnostic assessment of the activities of pupils and instructors/tutors/teachers (10%) 2. a detailed analysis of each of 2 activities, to include characterisation and detailed description of the habitats used, list of the resources used, environmental assessment of the impact of the activity and identification of potential negative impacts. 3. a proposal of at least one new activity to be carried out in an alternative habitat (to those described above) complete with habitat description, resources list and impact assessment. 4. a reflective essay analysing the learner's own personal OE practice and examining strategies to improve and diversify that practice using some of the strategies and concepts encountered on this course.70


 
Reading List show detail >>
   
 
Type ISBN Title Author Publisher Year Edition Library Link
Essential0632036575Applied Ecology
Newman, I.
Blackwell		20002nd-
Recommended0002200805Ireland, A Natural History
Cabot, D.
Harper Collins		1999-
Recommended1901137279A Guide to Habitats in Ireland
Fossitt, J.A.
The Heritage Council		2000-
Recommended0007176295Complete Irish Wildlife
Sterry, P.
Harper COllins		2004-
Recommended0190346403Flora Hibernica
Pilcher, J.
The Collins Press		2001-
Recommended9781900621885Irish Wetlands: Distribution, ecology, uses and economic value
Otte. R.
University College Press, Dublin		2003-
Recommended9781848891159The Making of Ireland's Landscape since the Ice Age.
Hall, V.
The Collins Press, Cork		2011-
Recommended9781860590559Reading the Irish Landscape
Mitchell, G.F. & Ryan, M.
Dublin: Country House		1997-
Recommended9781859184592Atlas of the Rural Irish Landscape
AAlen, F.H.A., Whelan, K. & Stout, M.
Cork University Press		2011-


 
Journals and Websites show detail >>
   
 
Type Description
JournalJournal of Environmental Education
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental and Science Education
JournalJournal of Experiential Education
JournalJournal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning
JournalAustralian Journal of Outdoor Education
WebsiteHorizons: Journal of the Institute of Outdoor Learning
Websitewww.wilderdom.com
Websitewww.wildernessenquiry.com
Websitewww.ncca.ie
Websitewww.habitas.org
Websitewww.wildflowers.ie
background image

Curricular information is subject to change