腦瞳憫

Forum for Outdoor Education

Grass during summer.
Photo: Åsa Nilsson Dahlström

The Forum for Outdoor Education is a faculty- and departmentwide research forum at 腦瞳憫. Here, researchers and teachers meet to discuss current issues in outdoor education and didactics. The research conducted by Forum members focuses on the importance of place for learning and more generally how outdoor education contributes learning, health and sustainability.        

In recent years, interest in outdoor education has steadily increased. Still, the field of research and education faces many challenges, and we are interested in the following:

  1. Developments in information and communication technology are changing society in various ways and contribute to an increase in sedentary behaviour and unhealth among children and young people. How can outdoor education be used to stimulate children and young people to increase physical activity in outdoor environments?
  2. Research shows that teaching in outdoor learning environments stimulates concentration and learning. How can outdoor education be integrated into the school's work to stimulate different ways of learning and increase the ability to concentrate?
  3. Stress is an increasing problem, in school as well as working life. Research shows that spending time and activities in outdoor environments can lower stress levels and thereby contribute to better health. In what way can outdoor recreation and green learning environments be used for preventing stress?
  4. Subject didactic research studies how combinations of theory and practice in different learning environments indoors and outdoors can contribute to better learning and a holistic understanding of complex phenomena. How can outdoor education support, for example, teaching and learning for sustainable development?
  5. The importance of stimulating schoolyards is of interest in research. How can outdoor environments be designed so that they stimulate physical movement and thus better health and conditions for learning in children and young people?

The Forum for Outdoor Education is a resource for the various faculties at Linköping University, and several departments offer courses in outdoor education and didactics. Education at advanced level is given at: Outdoor and Sustainability Education International masters' programme (60 or 120 credits/ECTS). Doctoral education in outdoor education and outdoor education is offered within the framework of two doctoral programmes: Science and Technology Education and more generally in Education at Linköping University.

Research news

Research projects

Research projects

Se members' webpages.

Completed research projects

VASS Project The Virtual World Meets the Authentic World in Sensuous and Integrated Learning

Contact

Members at 腦瞳憫

Other members

Publications

Cover of publication 'The Landscape as a Source of Knowledge: in the Context of Outdoor Education and Didactics'
Anders Szczepanski (2025)
Cover of publication 'Friluftsliv explored: An environmental and outdoor teaching approach for knowledge, emotions and quality of life'
Britta Brügge, Matz Glantz, Klas Sandell, Therese Lundqvist Jones, Anders Szczepanski, Per Andersson (Editorship) (2021)
Ann-Sofie Kall, Ola Uhrqvist, Therese Asplund (2024)

Environmental Education Research , Vol.30 , s.544-559

Anders Szczepanski, Maria Strandberg (2022)

International Turfgrass Society Research Journal , Vol.14 , s.1022-1025

Mattias Arvola, Inger Edfors Fuchs, Ingemar Nyman, Anders Szczepanski (2021)

Built Environment , Vol.47 , s.223-242

Cover of publication 'Teaching with the sky as a ceiling: a review of research about the significance of outdoor teaching for childrens learning in compulsory school'
Johan Faskunger, Anders Szczepanski, Petter Åkerblom (2018)
Cover of publication 'Citizens views on climate-change adaptation: a study of the views of participants in the 2020 Climate Change Megagame'
Ola Uhrqvist, Ola Leifler, Magnus Persson (2021)

Education

Bachelor's

Master's

  • Cognition and Learning in the Anthropocene (start spring 2027)
  • Places as Learning environments (start autumn 2027)