I accidently deleted the link to the APPLES blog, so I'm going to do my best to answer the prompt. It will be brief as I have to get to a bus to get to my Outward Bound course.
So far my "research" is well. I've been learning a lot about the theory and philosophy of outdoor/environmental education, with a focus on place-based education. So far I've mainly done this through reading. I'm visiting a school with a large environmental focus tomorrow. The part with the community is going well too. I've proctored EOGs, led a design project, hosted a teacher focus group, started organizing parents and students, and talked to a design professional. Honestly, I haven't ironed out my research to one question, its more like an overall goal and I'm learning loads through readings and interactions along the way. Once I'm back from Outward Bound I will really iron out my question and start focusing my research more specifically on that. My goal is to create a working and useful outdoor classroom at a low cost that really engages the community. Questions that have to be answered are: What are useful components of an outdoor classroom? How can one get volunteers involved? How can one avoid asking too much of already busy people? What resources does the community offer? How much effort and time are people willing to put in? What do students and teachers want in an outdoor classroom? What concerns are there about using an outdoor classroom? How can it be maintained? Some of these questions have been partially answered in earlier posts. I have lots left to do and I'm excited about it!
So far, I've been surprised by the support from the community. I was really worried that I was becoming a burden on teachers and administration, but they are all excited and willing to work with me and share ideas with each other as well as skills and time! Quite a few parents have returned forms and offered their time to help in the outdoor classroom. They are also being understanding of the fact that I'll be out of the loop for a month. The students have also surprised me! Their outdoor classroom designs are incredible!!!! I'm so proud of them. I'll be posting some samples soon. They are awesome people! I hope I get a job in such an incredible community when I start to teach! I'm so glad I get to work with the McDougle community!
For some reason I'm surprised by how much I've learned. I am used to learning loads in all that I do, but I've gotten so much out of this project - from adolescent development through reading, class management skills (or mainly realizing I need them :-), to how to organize communities and work with people who have superior positions to mine. I'm so glad I applied for and got the CBR SURF!
The hardest part of the project so far is the fact that I'll be gone for 28 days. However, I'm SO excited about Outward Bound. And I have contact info for all the parents and students working the first week and permission from the principal and support from coordinating teacher, so I'm sure that things will end up running quite smoothly!
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I think the question about how you can get people involved who are already busy is a really good one. I think a lot of people want to do more than they do, but don't get around to it. Any time you come across a suggestion that could somehow be fit into an existing routine, that can get busy people involved. Off the top of my head, I was thinking that if parents who can't compost, because of where they live, could have their kids drop compost off at a school site before coming in the building, then the school site could have compost material and the families could get excited about involvement without going very far out of their normal routine.
ReplyDeleteMallory I think your project is moving along great! As far as the research question, I think as long as you have a framework through which to accomplish your project, having a flexible research question is realistic and manageable. Have fun at outward bound and I look forward to seeing where your project goes!
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