ERIC Number: EJ1366584
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Aug
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0256-0100
EISSN: EISSN-2076-3433
A Journey to Adolescent Flourishing: Exploring Psychosocial Outcomes of Outdoor Adventure Education
South African Journal of Education, v42 n3 Article 2061 Aug 2022
There is an increasing appreciation that, in order to prepare learners for success in life, they require a holistic education providing not only academic skills, but also psychosocial competencies (Zins & Elias, 2006). Outdoor adventure education (OAE) shows potential as a way of developing these life skills, which are not easy to incorporate into the school curriculum (Sibthorp & Jostad, 2014). The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the psychosocial outcomes and perceived value of a school-based OAE programme ("Journey") for adolescents in South Africa. Data from a convenience sample of 144 Grade 10 learners' post-"Journey" surveys, letters to the school principals and interviews with members of the focus groups (n = 20), were thematically analysed using template analysis. Applying the acronym, "FLOURISHING," the analysis suggests that while "Journey" was beneficial for the psychosocial development of most learners, not all perceived value from their experiences. We propose that positive psychosocial outcomes could be enhanced by adopting a strength-based approach to OAE. This study provides a unique sociocultural perspective, corroborating the beneficial effects of OAE and could have implications for pedagogical policy and practice within South Africa (SA) and further afield.
Descriptors: Outdoor Education, Adventure Education, Adolescent Development, Individual Development, Daily Living Skills, Outcomes of Education, Student Attitudes, Learning Experience, Teaching Methods, Sociocultural Patterns, Foreign Countries, Educational Policy, Interpersonal Competence, Friendship, Environmental Education, African Culture, Reflection, Constructivism (Learning)
Education Association of South Africa. University of Pretoria, Centre for the Study of Resilience, Level 3, Groenkloof Student Centre, Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, George Storrar Road and Lleyds Street, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Web site: http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/index
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A