Kari Giordano – Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching 2020

Beyond the School Walls
Classroom teachers do the best they can, often using their
own funds, to create a space that is welcoming, nurturing
and conducive to learning. While each teacher has her
own idea of what an effective classroom looks like, many
teachers forget that the classroom need not be limited to
the room within the school’s walls. In Scotland, outdoor
education has really gained steam and schools are doing a
good job getting the students outdoors as much as possible.
There can be a common misconception as to what outdoor
education entails. For some, merely recreating the indoor
classroom outside of the school is the approach taken while
others go far beyond this idea to use place, it’s geology,
geography, and history as a learning tool in itself.
Successful place-based education utilizes a wide variety of
learning spaces and integrates these spaces into the process
with relevance. The following idea and lessons encourage
teachers to look beyond the classroom walls for inspiration,
connection and practical learning environments.
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