title: Place responsive and culturally responsive outdoor education in secondary schools: Examining teachers' perspectives and experiences

authors: Skipworth, Andrew James

subjects: place responsive

abstract: Sustainability, place and human connectedness have increasingly become the focus of research and professional dialogue in school-based outdoor education in Aotearoa New Zealand. These developments challenge traditional practices that privilege adventure and individualistic outcomes in outdoor education. At the same time, the implementation of culturally responsive practices within many secondary schools has further challenged teachers of outdoor education to ensure that pedagogical approaches and outcomes meet the needs of their diverse student population. An increasing number of educators appear to have adopted place responsive and culturally responsive pedagogies within their outdoor education programmes or units of work at the senior school level, yet there is limited research examining teachers’ perceptions and experiences in doing so.
Adopting an interpretive framework, and using qualitative research methods, this research focuses on the challenges faced and opportunities presented when secondary school teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand adopt place and culturally responsive pedagogies in outdoor education. Six teachers of senior level outdoor education from schools spread throughout Aotearoa New Zealand shared their stories. An inductive analysis of the interviews identified these teachers faced ongoing challenges with adopting new pedagogies in outdoor education, which was in part because many colleagues held perceptions that outdoor education was less important than other subjects and was primarily about having fun. In addition, the complexities of assessment at the senior level meant that teachers often faced challenges in formally assessing student learning. Teachers also found that undertaking change required shifts in mind-set which were further supported by targeted professional development, engagement in post-graduate study and talking with like-minded teachers. However, teachers’ adoption of place and culturally responsive approaches generated notable opportunities to align to the front end of the New Zealand curriculum, promote the holistic development of students and nurture cultural diversity.
This study highlights that undertaking curriculum and pedagogical change in outdoor education in secondary schools is a complex process, which is greatly influenced by the attitudes and perceptions of others. The potential alignment of place responsive and culturally responsive pedagogies became apparent, as did the need for more targeted professional development for teachers of outdoor education. Teachers’ adoption of these pedagogies also highlighted a greater capacity for authentic outdoor education experiences for students that also strengthened a commitment to their bicultural partnerships in schools. As the nature of education changes in schools, contemporary pedagogies in outdoor education have the potential to enhance the capacity of schools to facilitate learning that will meet the diverse needs of learners in Aotearoa New Zealand.

text: Place responsive and culturally responsive outdoor education in secondary schools: Examining teachers' perspectives and experiences Sustainability, place and human connectedness have increasingly become the focus of research and professional dialogue in school-based outdoor education in Aotearoa New Zealand. These developments challenge traditional practices that privilege adventure and individualistic outcomes in outdoor education. At the same time, the implementation of culturally responsive practices within many secondary schools has further challenged teachers of outdoor education to ensure that pedagogical approaches and outcomes meet the needs of their diverse student population. An increasing number of educators appear to have adopted place responsive and culturally responsive pedagogies within their outdoor education programmes or units of work at the senior school level, yet there is limited research examining teachers’ perceptions and experiences in doing so.
Adopting an interpretive framework, and using qualitative research methods, this research focuses on the challenges faced and opportunities presented when secondary school teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand adopt place and culturally responsive pedagogies in outdoor education. Six teachers of senior level outdoor education from schools spread throughout Aotearoa New Zealand shared their stories. An inductive analysis of the interviews identified these teachers faced ongoing challenges with adopting new pedagogies in outdoor education, which was in part because many colleagues held perceptions that outdoor education was less important than other subjects and was primarily about having fun. In addition, the complexities of assessment at the senior level meant that teachers often faced challenges in formally assessing student learning. Teachers also found that undertaking change required shifts in mind-set which were further supported by targeted professional development, engagement in post-graduate study and talking with like-minded teachers. However, teachers’ adoption of place and culturally responsive approaches generated notable opportunities to align to the front end of the New Zealand curriculum, promote the holistic development of students and nurture cultural diversity.
This study highlights that undertaking curriculum and pedagogical change in outdoor education in secondary schools is a complex process, which is greatly influenced by the attitudes and perceptions of others. The potential alignment of place responsive and culturally responsive pedagogies became apparent, as did the need for more targeted professional development for teachers of outdoor education. Teachers’ adoption of these pedagogies also highlighted a greater capacity for authentic outdoor education experiences for students that also strengthened a commitment to their bicultural partnerships in schools. As the nature of education changes in schools, contemporary pedagogies in outdoor education have the potential to enhance the capacity of schools to facilitate learning that will meet the diverse needs of learners in Aotearoa New Zealand.

year: 2017

title: Whakaoranga taiao, whakaoranga tangata: The restorative, healing, and decolonising potential of environmental restoration

authors: Moore, Robert

abstract: This thesis explores the ways in which Māori who are involved in environmental restoration are able to use their experiences to reconnect with Te Ao Māori. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three Māori who have been involved in environmental restoration in and around Kirikiriroa. These research participants were also able to speak to what they have observed in other restoration projects at their respective marae and comment broadly about this work as it is taking place across Aotearoa. It became clear through this research that the impacts of history and colonisation are still felt heavily by Māori in the environmental space today. For Māori involved in environmental restoration, this is a place where they are able to learn and share knowledge and reconnect with their Māoritanga. Environmental restoration can help restore wairua relationships with the whenua and strengthen Maori wellbeing through strengthening relationships with the whenua. Engaging in environmental restoration supports decolonisation as, for the aforementioned outcomes of doing so, being in these spaces supports the affirmation of an Indigenous identity.

text: Whakaoranga taiao, whakaoranga tangata: The restorative, healing, and decolonising potential of environmental restoration This thesis explores the ways in which Māori who are involved in environmental restoration are able to use their experiences to reconnect with Te Ao Māori. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three Māori who have been involved in environmental restoration in and around Kirikiriroa. These research participants were also able to speak to what they have observed in other restoration projects at their respective marae and comment broadly about this work as it is taking place across Aotearoa. It became clear through this research that the impacts of history and colonisation are still felt heavily by Māori in the environmental space today. For Māori involved in environmental restoration, this is a place where they are able to learn and share knowledge and reconnect with their Māoritanga. Environmental restoration can help restore wairua relationships with the whenua and strengthen Maori wellbeing through strengthening relationships with the whenua. Engaging in environmental restoration supports decolonisation as, for the aforementioned outcomes of doing so, being in these spaces supports the affirmation of an Indigenous identity.

year: 2022

title: Socio-economic drivers of freshwater fish declines in a changing climate: a New Zealand perspective

authors: Ling, Nicholas

subjects: biodiversity

abstract: New Zealand has a freshwater fish fauna characterized by high levels of national and local endemism and which is threatened by anthropogenic stressors including habitat destruction or deterioration, commercial harvest, pollution and interactions with invasive exotic species. Significant expansion of New Zealand's dairy production has recently created further deterioration of lowland water quality and greater pressure for water allocation in drier eastern regions of the South Island. New Zealand has large freshwater resources and its climate is predicted to experience less dramatic changes in mean annual temperature and precipitation than many other regions of the world as a result of anthropogenic climate change. Predicted changes in regional climate and further expansion of the dairy industry, however, will impose similar pressures on freshwater resources in northern New Zealand to those already acting to threaten freshwater biodiversity in the eastern South Island.

text: Socio-economic drivers of freshwater fish declines in a changing climate: a New Zealand perspective New Zealand has a freshwater fish fauna characterized by high levels of national and local endemism and which is threatened by anthropogenic stressors including habitat destruction or deterioration, commercial harvest, pollution and interactions with invasive exotic species. Significant expansion of New Zealand's dairy production has recently created further deterioration of lowland water quality and greater pressure for water allocation in drier eastern regions of the South Island. New Zealand has large freshwater resources and its climate is predicted to experience less dramatic changes in mean annual temperature and precipitation than many other regions of the world as a result of anthropogenic climate change. Predicted changes in regional climate and further expansion of the dairy industry, however, will impose similar pressures on freshwater resources in northern New Zealand to those already acting to threaten freshwater biodiversity in the eastern South Island.

year: 2010