M. Shimkus Post

4/16/2012

Throughout the semester, we have discussed the benefits and issues with technology in the classroom. We have discussed how much and how little of it to use in the classroom. We have also mentioned that technology may be replacing face to face interaction and sometimes limits children's imagination. But we have not discussed what the word 'classroom' means. I have found an article that redefines what a classroom is and takes away the need for any technology. This article is about a preschool that is completely outdoors. The children are allowed to explore and play inventive games, all outside!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011657278_preschool21m.html

In the age of technology, do you think this type of classroom is a good idea? Do you think the children learn more from this type of environment? Do you think the children will be behind other students when they begin elementary school?

40 Comments

Heather Kirkendoll

04/16/2012 21:08

This is so cool, I wish I could send my daughter. This seems so great, especially for preschool. And to the question, are they ill prepared, definately not. In the short reading, there was mention of so much science, music, vocabulary, and physical education with play. I believe that this will help with developing curiosity, problem solving, and investigating. I do not believe these kids are deprived at all, in fact, I believe the opposite is true. I think there will be plenty of time for technology learning once they get into higher grade levels.

casey costa

04/17/2012 10:16

Developing that curiosity is so important especially when it comes to advancing education and staying interested in it.

Kelli Miller

04/17/2012 19:44

I agree with you in that the students are not deprived at all. I think this atmosphere opens up the children's creativity and imagination.

Students learn differently and as such, they will go through their schooling facing many different kinds of teaching methods. Since the students in this article are starting their educational careers in an unconventional way, I too, think they will get to use technology in their later years of schooling.

Stacy Crommie

04/18/2012 06:16

I agree. Students will be facing all kinds of methods. This was a very innovative idea and brings about a method unheard of in the states. Sometimes stepping outside the box is more alluring to inquiring minds and keeps students engaged to the point of retention.

Ryan Mansfield

04/18/2012 09:31

The problem solving aspect of the whole idea is what caught my attention. The fact that kids have to think outside of the box and explore solutions on their own is a great idea and a great introduction to real life and the problems they will face down the road.

Nick Camp

04/17/2012 06:11

Very interesting article, this is the type of innovation that will help bring the American school system back to the top. I think Erin Kenny is doing great things by approaching the child's brain in a different matter. Having children outside all of the time is something that I would never have thought of when teaching 3-5 year olds. If Kenny is teaching young children outdoors and they are learning valuable information for later on in life, im all for it.

George Pincock

04/17/2012 10:04

Good article and an innovative idea. I think it would work for preschooler but not anywhere else. Isn't being outside in nature, visiting the muesum, going place what field trips were all about. I thought field trips were always to reinforce what we had learned in the classroom.

Nick Camp

04/18/2012 06:59

I think that it may work for more age groups other than preschoolers. I can see a high school biology course be strictly outside and still be beneficial to everyone's learning.

Ryan Mansfield

04/18/2012 09:35

I know some universities that have something similar to this model. One of them is Missouri S&T which is one of the better engineering schools in the country. Every year when they have their electric car races, it seems to make national news. It is not the fact that they have car races in which the cars have to be powered by alternative fuel sources but the fact that the kids designing them have to think outside the box and come up with different ideas and different takes on how use different ideas which is exactly what business is.

Audrey Crabtree

04/18/2012 11:01

I agree with you here. I think it can be used for other age groups but you would also have to not be outside all day. Learning to write and type would be difficult in the rain and snow.

Robert Thomas

04/19/2012 15:31

Like we have said many times before there is no two students that will learn the same information the same way everyone is different. What might work for one might not for the other. With the advancements we have with technology we need to be as flexiable as possible to make whatever changes we need to for the better of the students.

Stephanie Armiger

04/22/2012 16:41

I agree that other classes, with older children, should take the "classroom" outdoor more often. I think many classes could be held outdoors, even reading class. Kid's could spread out with a book to read or listen to the teacher read aloud.

Heather Kirkendoll

04/18/2012 19:55

I had a bad experience with field trips my second year of teaching. I will never go on a field trip again. The liability factor is too much to risk.

Cara Barth-Fagan

04/22/2012 17:37

You brought up field trips- my 2 sons have both gone to outdoor field trips this year- the pumpkin patch (which had games and a hayride) and the Runge Nature Center in Jeff City. They both enjoyed exploring, being outdoors, and learning.

casey costa

04/17/2012 10:15

I think this type of classroom is a great idea. Many times kids are distracted by looking outside and wanting to be moving around with all of the energy they have. If you had teachers that could control them outside I think this would be great because there are studies that show that the mind actually retains the most information when the body is active.

Melea Shimkus

04/19/2012 19:15

I agree, many times students are distracted by looking outdoors or day-dreaming about being outside. So why not conduct class outside and teach the students in the process? I think it's interesting what you said about the mind retaining more information when the body is active. This might help convince people that this type of classroom is beneficial.

Kelli Miller

04/17/2012 19:38

This article was great! I think the idea opens the creative doors for preschool children. Having class outside will fuel their imagination and allow them to learn in a different atmosphere. I think the outdoor classroom caters to the different intelligences that children have; if anything, it will help the teachers figure out which student fits in with each type of intelligence.

I don't think the children will behind when they enter elementary school. It seems to me that the outdoor classroom is a success. Perhaps, entering elementary school will hinder their progress in learning.

Jeremy Esry

04/18/2012 06:11

I agree and think it would be interested to compare the creativity from these preschool students to the creativity and imagination of preschool students who attend a "normal" preschool. I bet you can definatly tell a difference in the two.

Nick Camp

04/19/2012 16:15

Coach Esry, that sounds like an awesome paper topic. I think you should look into that and possibly thinking about getting it published once you find all of the research.

Melea Shimkus

04/19/2012 19:24

I agree that this type of classroom fuels children's curiosity and imagination. It allows them to explore and get a hands on experience of learning. I also agree that entering a traditional elementary school might hurt the progress the children already made. They will no longer be allowed to explore everything they are learning about and will be forced to be in one atmosphere all day long. Their curiosity will not be satisfied.

Jeremy Esry

04/18/2012 05:45

That is an awesome idea and concept! Kind of wish by parents would have sent me to this school. I think this is a great idea, especailly for thier age. The students are going to get enough of the technology stuff when they are out of school and later on in life when they enter grade school and high school. For them to be able to get out in nature and explore as well as use their imagination instead of playing a video game or computer game is great. With them being so young, I do not believe that they will be behind students when the enter elementry school.

Christopher Sandefur

04/18/2012 06:30

I agree. I think not much is being lost with an outside classroom. I believe their is being more stimulation of the brain than if stuck inside a classroom.

Audrey Crabtree

04/18/2012 11:03

I agree! Kids these days spend too much time indoors and on technology. When a kid knows how to use a smart phone, but can't play tag, that is a problem. They need to be able to interact and be stimulated so they can learn. This environment is doing just that.

George Pincock

04/18/2012 12:01

Great Point... every student learns different and we must remember that. But as educators shouldn't shouldn't we be good enough at our job to create interaction and stimulation in the class room itself.

Stacy Crommie

04/18/2012 06:12

Wonderful idea!! I love it! I wish I could have sent my kids when they were younger. They would have loved it. They can learn so much from this school. Technology is important but at that age imagination and learning about nature is more productive. It keeps th ekids engaged and they get a good foundation on many subjects.

Christopher Sandefur

04/18/2012 06:29

This is a great article and concept for learning. I love how it is a hands on learning school. This is a great concept for all ages but the source can be changed as the students get older. My belief is we need more of this in the school systems. I am not saying taking the students totally out of the classroom but maybe a few hours in the classroom and a few hours out of the classroom could be beneficial. I think this type of classroom gets children excited about school and learning. I think this classroom teaches students to live a well balance life.

Cara Barth-Fagan

04/18/2012 07:11

The way children learn is by playing- playing by themselves, exploring their environments, playing with others. This outdoor classroom supports so many differnt domains in ECE- social/emotional, science and cognitive, language/literacy, physical, and math. This seems like a great learning envrionment to be in. The children are able to drive their learning- they discover things and ask questions which then allows the teacher to explore those areas even further with their students. For preschoolers, at least 30 minutes 2 times a day is needed for physical activities, so this provides a great opportunity to get those needs met. Also, when kids are outside, the get vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin) that allows them to be boost their immunities, aids in "keeping depression away", and helps heal cells that have been damaged.
Being outdoors really allows kids' minds to go "wild" and be creative. They dont' have time to watch t.v. or play video games when they are out moving and playing. They forget about all of that in the moment of play!
Great article and wish we had more of those types of classrooms in Missouri.

Popi Stevens

04/18/2012 08:47

Great point about how the outdoor classroom supports what we want the children to develop and learn. Learning environment is a very important aspect of learning that is often over looked.

Audrey Crabtree

04/18/2012 08:28

I think the school is a great idea. It is a very interesting thing to think about. It keeps the kids active and allows them to learn without even really knowing it. From reading the article it sounds like the students are doing great and will not be behind at all. I believe their will be plenty of time for technology as they become older. This school is a great starting point for children and looks to have a lot of positive aspects to it.

Popi Stevens

04/18/2012 08:42

I think that the school is being very creative. I dont know if i feel one way or the other about this but i will say that i would be very interested to see how everything goes. Meaning are the kids behind (and if so in what particular areas). I feel like if kids are having fun learning then it is always a positive thing that could help them in the learning process. So i guess to answer the question i do think it is a good idea.

Ryan Mansfield

04/18/2012 09:29

I have never seen this before but like the idea. I think this is something, at least in my opinion, what education should be. Yes there should be basics but at the same time, we need to be teaching our kids to be creative and think outside of the box. I think putting youngsters in a situation where they have to be creative while at the same time get out of the proverbial classroom may be the way to go. I think this would take some time getting used to but the fact that we are making kids think on their feet and adapt to their evironment is a great idea.

Thomas Buehler

04/22/2012 12:36

I agree with you coach Mansfield. Helping kids develop critical thinking is one of the most important skills that they can develop. Today, too many kids lack the ability to thnk critically.

Robert Thomas

04/19/2012 15:28

Very good article I really like the hands on learning that the students get. I think it helps them being able to solve real world problems. Trial and error is huge in my mind for the development for any student.

Thomas Buehler

04/20/2012 07:18

I've never heard of this before and I am intrigued. I like how they are focusing on human brain development. I think that this will help today's kids get started on the right foot. I like that they give children a chance to be creative and innovative on their own. This can help them with their critical thinking down the road. It will also give them a chance to be more independent early on. This will help children take their own learning much more seriously.

Elyce Lamphere

04/22/2012 14:29

I completely agree with you, this type of program can help kids be more creative and innovative something I find is very important. Also, their critical thinking skills on how to solve problems and learn from nature will certainly help them in the future and help them taking learning more seriously and fun. This type of method shows kids learning can be fun, not boring.

Elyce Lamphere

04/22/2012 14:26

This type of learning environment is very interesting. I think you can learn a lot from the environment, and it can be a healthy thing not only to their brains but for their bodies as well. I do not think these children who attend this type of preschool will be behind. There are all the colors to learn in nature you can count things in nature. So, I think as long as you incorporate these basics in with other information about the environment the children will not be behind other kids that go to an indoor "fancy" preschool. If anything, I think the kids will be ahead of other children in life lessons on how to adapt and other things compared to other children. I would certainly consider sending my child to a preschool like this.

Matthew Clanahan

04/22/2012 15:53

I like this idea in theory. I was homeschooled from PreK-12, and I had the benefits of being able to work at my own pace, receiving one-on-one education, utilizing technology to its fullest extent, and doing my schoolwork outside whenever I wanted. We went on all sorts of field trips and learned about nature. By the time I was 10 years old, I had visited every state park and historic site in the state of Missouri and could tell you all about the things I had learned about each one.

What I will say about all of this is that there has to be balance. I feel like a school that meets strictly outdoors is missing out on some very valuable lessons that can only be learned indoors using technology; likewise, a school that only meets indoors misses out on some incredible learning opportunities that can only take place out in the open air. I appreciate my educator parents for instilling a love of learning in me, and for using everything as a learning opportunity — whether indoors or outdoors.

Matthew Clanahan

04/22/2012 15:59

I think for a preschool, this is certainly a wonderful idea. At that age, a traditional classroom setting isn't really that beneficial for many students. My experience certainly isn't the same as everyone's, but by the time I was four years old, I was able to read. I would have been bored senseless in a traditional preschool where I had to work on my alphabet with everyone else. Get these students outside, and everyone can excel.

Cara Barth-Fagan

04/22/2012 17:35

It is a great idea for preschool, however, I teach college students and often times when the weather is nice they'll ask if we can have class outside . . . do you think they are wanting to return to their 'childhood"? Or do you think that they prefer to learn in the open air?

Stephanie Armiger

04/22/2012 16:37

I think this is a neat idea, but as a mother it would be difficult to send my child outdoors all day in all kinds of weather but I am pretty sure my busy little boy would love it! I think children learn a lot through their play. I think it is a great idea to move many activities outdoors. When I worked at Head Start we tried to move a lot of activities outside. Many days, weather permitting, we took paint, colors, books, activity table, dress up clothes, lunch and/or snack outside. The children enjoyed this! I personally feel that all teachers should move some of the classroom work outside.
I don’t think this school will hinder the preschool age children, as far as technology is concerned, however it may be difficult for the children to transition to a “normal” classroom the following year.

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This blog is for class conversations for ED 514 at Central Methodist University. These post are by the students of ED 514. We invite input form other teachers about how they use technology in their classrooms.

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