How Outdoor Education Benefits Students
We live in the era of technology, and combining learning with time spent on the screen remains a challenge for both parents and educators. Outdoor learning is a natural part of a child’s development. We get most of our fundamental survival amenities from nature, such as air, water, and food. Most kids love the outdoors, but others are consumed by games or activities on their digital devices.
Technology is an important part of our daily lives; it would be nearly impossible to survive in today’s world without knowledge of how to use digital devices. So, there must be a good balance between screen time and spending time outdoors.
Technology Shift in Education
With the advancements in technology, there was a demand to change how children learn. Back in the day, pencils and paper were the essential tools for all students. Now, classrooms look very different. Most children have access to a computer in every class they attend, and some schools provide computers that can be taken home to do their homework.
When COVID-19 broke out, many educators seamlessly went to a virtual learning environment. While this was not ideal for most households, it was an option that would never have been possible before such advancements in technology. Virtual online learning is here to stay.
Many people chose to keep their children home after the pandemic, allowing them to continue their education in a virtual classroom. While this may work for some households, not everyone was happy about this option.
Children already spend hours watching TV, playing video games, watching YouTube videos, and video-calling friends. The amount of screen time children clock up in a day can be unreal, which is why it is so important for parents to find an even balance. Advancements in technology are a good thing, but they have also increased screen time among today’s youth.
Benefits of Technology in Learning
- Online learning allows for individualized learning.
- Global reach is possible.
- Accessibility.
- Entering the working world with more tech knowledge than previous generations.
- A higher level of learning can be achieved.
- Students can expand on their interests and achieve goals earlier in life.
Outdoor Learning Environment Advantages
According to research conducted at the University of Wisconsin, “Outdoor education and play support emotional, behavioral, and intellectual development. Studies have shown that students who learn outdoors develop: a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making and problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, motor skills, self-discipline, and initiative.”
Other advantages include:
- Decrease stress, anxiety, and other emotional issues.
- Decreases the likelihood of high blood pressure, heart disease, and childhood obesity.
- Enhances and promotes creativity and focus.
- It provides healthy exposure to nature’s many beneficial and neutral microbes, educating the immune system, along with a healthy dose of Vitamin D.
- Enhance motor skill development and promote exercise.
- Promotes social interaction and teamwork with group activities.
- Utilization of STEM with an outdoor learning environment.
Balancing Tech and Nature
Many educational facilities are capturing technology in a way that provides a perfect mixture of screen-based instruction and outdoor learning. However, children crave technology, which presents challenges. One of the biggest hurdles in education is the overreliance on screens and digital media. Most households have access to multiple tablets, laptops, and smart devices, which poses a challenge for parents and educators. Technology is a fantastic tool with a lot to offer. However, too much technology can cause issues for a child’s physical health, social interactions, and attention span.
Another major factor to consider is the constant pressure on educators to meet testing standards and cover mandated material. This alone can negatively impact outdoor exploration and learning.
How Olney’s Approach Works for Students
While many schools struggle to integrate technology with outdoor learning, Olney Friends School has developed a distinctive approach. Our 350-acre campus serves as a living laboratory where students don’t just learn about environmental concepts—they experience them firsthand. Unlike traditional schools, where outdoor time might be limited to brief recess periods or occasional field trips, we integrate the outdoors into our daily curriculum.
What makes our approach unique is how seamlessly we blend technology with natural experiences. Our students might use digital sensors to monitor soil conditions in the morning, analyze the data on computers during midday classes, and then apply their findings to actual farming practices in the afternoon. This continuous cycle of observation, analysis, and application bridges the gap between digital and physical learning in ways that typical schools simply cannot offer.
At Olney, we don’t view technology and nature as competing forces. Instead, we see them as complementary tools in a comprehensive educational approach. Our students learn to use technology purposefully— as a means to better understand, document, and care for the natural world. This balanced perspective helps them develop healthier relationships with technology and the environment.
Technology In Outdoor Learning
Teachers and parents need to stop viewing technology and outdoor education as opposing forces. With proper integration, a balance can be obtained. By merging these two disciplines, students can enjoy learning about nature while still benefiting from modern technology and gadgets.
One of the most effective applications of technology in outdoor education is mobile apps that identify plant life and animal calls. These tech tools allow students to document plant and animal observations and track them in real time. GPS can enhance hiking trips, and apps even exist to help familiarize users with local hiking trails.
Digital scavenger hunts are also a good activity that can be carried out at home or in the classroom. To make them more engaging, the students can take pictures or record their observations.
With technology, students can organize their outdoor experiences and reflect on what they have done outside the classroom. They can share their experiences with peers, teachers, and parents by recording notes or taking videos while away.
Schools that blend outdoor education into the classroom can create an atmosphere of STEM education. Outside, in effect, can become a learning laboratory, connecting what is occurring daily to lessons in school.
Our students, for instance, may gather water samples to check the pH levels in the creeks, learn to read portable scanner soil samples, or examine insects through a digital microscope. This approach can awaken the child’s curiosity and help make learning fun.
This type of learning engages students by presenting practical experiences that will have a long-lasting impression. Teachers must find a way to use technology to enhance, rather than diminish, outdoor exposure.
The Right Balance of Outdoor Learning
If you are looking for the perfect balance of technology in outdoor learning, you should consider Olney Friends School. This gives your teen the best of both worlds while getting the time they need in both areas.
Our organic farm across our 350-acre campus is where students engage in raising crops and caring for animals. Our Olney community is diverse, and we’ve found the perfect integration of technology and outdoor education. Our students learn the most advanced technologies being utilized in the agriculture industry.
Connect with Olney today to set up your campus tour and discover what is available for your child’s education.