A Follow-Up Review on the Impact of a Participatory Action Research Regarding Outdoor Play and Learning

The aim of the study is to examine educators’ reflections on their practices and views regarding outdoor play and learning (OPL) and unveil the impact and sustainability of participating in participatory action research (PAR). The study draws back on the findings of a PAR conducted three years ago i...

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Main Author: Georgia Gessiou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/10/679
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author Georgia Gessiou
author_facet Georgia Gessiou
author_sort Georgia Gessiou
collection DOAJ
description The aim of the study is to examine educators’ reflections on their practices and views regarding outdoor play and learning (OPL) and unveil the impact and sustainability of participating in participatory action research (PAR). The study draws back on the findings of a PAR conducted three years ago in two different school units that aimed to support children’s OPL. In the current research, we return to the research field, and with the participating educators we attempt to shed light on their experiences after the formal research came to an end. The research has a socio-cultural perspective on outdoor play and learning with references to participative and active relationships between cultural, social, spatial, and psychological factors. Participating in research where all participants were agents of the change (PAR) enabled the educators to enrich their pedagogical agendas and respect children’s need to play outdoors; it further helped them feel confident and develop competencies in designing outdoor activities. However, the findings unveil the challenges that educators face in creating sustainable outdoor landscapes due to the lack of sufficient supervision and governmental support. The study adds new data regarding the release of sustainable long-term changes both in outdoor pedagogies and settings.
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spelling doaj.art-bcf30ee4501940aeba277ed7fd61e2982023-11-23T23:51:27ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022022-10-01121067910.3390/educsci12100679A Follow-Up Review on the Impact of a Participatory Action Research Regarding Outdoor Play and LearningGeorgia Gessiou0Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Ioannina, 451 10 Ioannina, GreeceThe aim of the study is to examine educators’ reflections on their practices and views regarding outdoor play and learning (OPL) and unveil the impact and sustainability of participating in participatory action research (PAR). The study draws back on the findings of a PAR conducted three years ago in two different school units that aimed to support children’s OPL. In the current research, we return to the research field, and with the participating educators we attempt to shed light on their experiences after the formal research came to an end. The research has a socio-cultural perspective on outdoor play and learning with references to participative and active relationships between cultural, social, spatial, and psychological factors. Participating in research where all participants were agents of the change (PAR) enabled the educators to enrich their pedagogical agendas and respect children’s need to play outdoors; it further helped them feel confident and develop competencies in designing outdoor activities. However, the findings unveil the challenges that educators face in creating sustainable outdoor landscapes due to the lack of sufficient supervision and governmental support. The study adds new data regarding the release of sustainable long-term changes both in outdoor pedagogies and settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/10/679participatory action researchoutdoor learning and playschool communityempowermentteaching strategies
spellingShingle Georgia Gessiou
A Follow-Up Review on the Impact of a Participatory Action Research Regarding Outdoor Play and Learning
Education Sciences
participatory action research
outdoor learning and play
school community
empowerment
teaching strategies
title A Follow-Up Review on the Impact of a Participatory Action Research Regarding Outdoor Play and Learning
title_full A Follow-Up Review on the Impact of a Participatory Action Research Regarding Outdoor Play and Learning
title_fullStr A Follow-Up Review on the Impact of a Participatory Action Research Regarding Outdoor Play and Learning
title_full_unstemmed A Follow-Up Review on the Impact of a Participatory Action Research Regarding Outdoor Play and Learning
title_short A Follow-Up Review on the Impact of a Participatory Action Research Regarding Outdoor Play and Learning
title_sort follow up review on the impact of a participatory action research regarding outdoor play and learning
topic participatory action research
outdoor learning and play
school community
empowerment
teaching strategies
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/10/679
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