The Effectiveness of Outdoor Education for Teaching to Multiple Intelligences

Abstract

Outdoor and environmental education has become even more important than previously with the rise in environmental issues. Outdoor education would be a beneficial addition to school systems across the country if the barriers preventing the implementation of this teaching method are overcome. This study discusses the use of outdoor education in the everyday school system. Using pre- and post- tests results this study expects to support the hypothesis that outdoor education has a positive correlation with higher test scores. It is expected to see a positive correlation between the outdoor lesson and higher test scores for all multiple intelligence profiles present within the test groups and a positive correlation between the indoor lesson and higher test scores for the verbal-linguistic and visual-spatial profiles than other profiles. Teaching with multiple intelligence profiles in consideration is also expected to allow for a great understanding for all of the participants involved in the study. The reason these results are expected is that using the outdoor education method more multiple intelligence profiles may be catered to than using traditional education.