Outdoor learning – the way to understand each other better Erasmus Project

Project Title

Outdoor learning – the way to understand each other better

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Migrants’ issues; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

Project “Outdoor learning – the way to understand each other better” tried to answer the most important question: How to improve the quality of preschool education integrating outdoor learning on purpose to facilitate the integration process in the multicultural classrooms?

The project improved the quality through connection of both – outdoor pedagogy and multicultural integration. Children conflicts, misunderstandings, sneer – often problem in multicultural environment among children in preschools. Because of this reason the quality of education is decreasing . Researchers from UK and USA have proved that children when they are outdoor are less aggressive, more creative and positive, so outdoor education form could be nice improvement of integration process in multicultural children groups. This integrated approach helped to increase the quality of preschool education level in multicultural environment.

Project objective – improve the quality of preschool education with sharing new methods and best practice of outdoor learning integration into multicultural environment.

Implemented project tasks:
1) shared the knowledge and raised the competence of employees (teacher and administrative staff) in outdoor education;
2) shared the knowledge and raised the competence of employees (teacher and administrative staff) in multicultural integration;
3) adapted outdoor pedagogy methods in multicultural preschool education environment.

The project was addressed to:
– 416 preschool students (children) – the main target group
– 56 preschool/school teachers and administrative staff
– 670 parents and other relatives.
– 328 relevant stakeholders
– 3 preschool organizations (like institutional partners of project)

Staff who participated In Learning/teaching/training activities (C1, C2, C3):
1 teacher, 1 person of administrative staff from Lithuania (2 participants for each activity);
1 teacher, 1 person of administrative staff from Turkey (2 participants for each activity);
1 teacher, 1 person of administrative staff from United Kingdom (2 participants for each activity);

Description of Learning/teaching/training activities – C1, C2, C3 (each activity duration – 5 days +2 days traveling.):
C1) Implemented program: Practical applicability of outdoor learning education method in multicultural preschool environment.
Program included: Introduction of VSI Lauko darzelis, interactive multicultural event- “Outdoor games – the way to understand each other”, training presenting of education quality based on outdoor education philosophy, outdoor learning integration to the public education sector, multicultural integration issues (expert), Interactive event (long hike in the regional park of Pavilniai), Job shadowing and open discussion, International partners sharing the best experience and practice.

C2) Implemented program: Practical applicability of outdoor learning education method in rural, Cornish preschool environment.
Program included: Introduction of Little explorers outdoor preschool, community and meeting team presentation, Tour of the setting and spend a bit of time with the staff and children and seeing how this work, Interactive multicultural event with local community, Training – presenting of outdoor education philosophy from the U.K. and how that looks internationally, Hands on Outdoor curriculum ideas, activities, workshops so that project participants can take away ideas and start making changes, in order to deliver outstanding curriculum outdoors. Evidencing learning and outcomes, recording children’s learning progress and creating next steps. Provide Project participants with our ” Toolkit – Developing Outdoor provision- a beginners guide, Interactive event.

C3) Implemented program: Learning and education methods in multicultural preschool environment
Program included: introduction of Mehmet Selahattin Çolak Primary School, community and meeting team presentation, Multicultural festival, Presenting the in-door and out-door activities, Job shadowing and open discussion, Visiting an independent preschool with native and immigrant/refugee students, Presenting the education policy for immigrant/refugee children. What has been done so far and What are the future plans? How to treat and approach the children who came from war zones and How to ease their integration? For both topics experts were invited.

Reached project results:
– better quality of preschool education based on outdoor learning in the multicultural classes,
– greater understanding and responsiveness to social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity,
– innovative approaches for more attractive preschool education – outdoor education in multicultural classes,
– better understanding about multicultural integration process in children groups,
– exchanged best experiences about outdoor learning and multicultural integration,
– increased accessibility to quality preschool outdoor education

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 44400 Eur

Project Coordinator

VsI Lauko darzelis & Country: LT

Project Partners

• Highway farm activity centre LTD
• Mehmet Selahattin Colak Ilkokulu