Student teachers’ views on outdoor education as a teaching method−two cases from Finland and Norway

Abstract

Outdoor education has many benefits for students, and the interest among teachers in this teaching method is growing. The aim of this study is to examine Finnish and Norwegian student teachers’ views on outdoor education as a teaching method. Student teachers from one teacher education programme in Finland (n = 66) and one in Norway (n = 32) participated in the study. A web questionnaire with both multiple-choice and open-ended questions was used, and the data was analysed by statistical analysis and content analysis. The results showed that both Finnish and Norwegian student teachers have different kinds of previous experiences with outdoor education, although the Norwegian experiences were mainly around outdoor life in general. Both student groups expressed positive views on outdoor education, but the views of the Norwegian students were somewhat more positive. However, they both noted some negative aspects of teaching outdoors and communicated an insecurity regarding teaching outdoors.