Learning Beyond the Classroom Walls

Nicole White

Arizona State University

TEL430: Learning Outside the Classroom

Janel White-Taylor

My Learning Summary

September 10, 2017

 The value of learning outside the classroom is endless and priceless. The world

beyond the classroom offers endless learning opportunities that empowers

individuals to construct their own learning and live successfully in the world that

surrounds them. Every day we are presented with situations that one can learn a

little or a lot depending on one’s understanding, attitude and perspective for the

given situation. Learning outside of the classroom allows for a more deeper

understanding of things learned. It allows one to apply the knowledge and skills

gained from within the classroom to real world situations. “It is fundamental that

young people can develop really deep feeling relationships with the world”.

(Jonathon Porritt The Value of Learning Outside the Classroom)

Learning outside of the classroom stimulates our learning senses allowing one

to connect learning with experiences. “These, often the most memorable learning

experiences, help us to make sense of the world around us by making links

between feelings and learning. They stay with us into adulthood and affect our

behavior, lifestyle and work. They influence our values and the decisions we

make. They allow us to transfer learning experienced outside to the classroom

and vice versa.” (Department for Education and Skills (2006) Learning Outside the

Classroom Manifesto). Through experiences on can obtain a higher order of

thinking, sharpen skill sets and fine tune abilities, engage more in the learning

process, increase the challenges and risks of the learning and improve one’s

attitude towards learning.

Learning should be evaluated through understanding and application of what

is learned. Grammar of schooling the long-established way of schooling has

structured learning in a way where learning is standardized to learning within the

classroom and evaluated on a grading scale. “When we turn to formal education

in traditional societies, we find less evidence concerning its nature or the dynamic

processes involved.” .” (Scribner, S. & Cole, M. 1973) “When we turn to the

schools, the evidence seems much clearer that its demands are not continuous

with those of everyday informal learning. Sifting through the mountains of

achievement and evaluation studies which constitute the bulk of research on the

schools, we find very few penetrating analyses of the learning and teaching

processes actually going on in the school environment (Scribner, S. & Cole, M.

1973). By changing the way, we evaluate what one has learned from what

information has been retained to include what one has understood and how one

applies what has been learned we allow the learner to receive the most from the

learning experience.
 References

Department for Education and Skills (2006) Learning Outside the Classroom

Manifesto

Scribner, S. & Cole, M. (1973) Cognitive Consequences of Formal and Informal

Education, Science New Series, 182- 4112, p 553-559.

Sun Downs National Park Authority (2013, March 25) Jonathon Porritt - The Value

of Learning Outside the Classroom.