Global Education through Adventure Learning:
K-12 Interdisciplinary, Solution-Focused Pedagogy
Dr. Elizabeth O. Crawford
Elementary Education
Watson College of Education
Resources Saved on LessonPaths
http://www.lessonpaths.com/learn/i/adventure-learning
Abbreviated Biography
•Teacher educator in
elementary education at
University of North Carolina
Wilmington.
•Education: Anthropology
with French Minor (B.A.),
Elementary Education
(M.S.), Curriculum
Leadership (Ph.D.)
•Research interests: global
education; curriculum for
young learners; technology
integration
Elizabeth O. Crawford
UNC Wilmington
Presentation Objectives
• To provide an overview of the benefits of
engaging your students in adventure
learning programs, particularly as they
relate to fostering students’ global
competencies.
• To draft solution-focused adventure
learning opportunities in small groups.
What is Adventure Learning?
• Grounded in experiential and inquiry-based
learning.
• Uses authentic or virtual experiences of content
area experts, researchers, or adventurers to
foster greater understanding of topics or issues.
• Provides a collaborative online learning
environment for students and teachers to interact
with one another and with the adventure learning
team members.
What is Adventure Learning? (con’t)
• Student-generated questions drive their
learning (rather than memorizing content).
• Students design and conduct investigations,
collect and analyze data, and communicate
findings.
• Connections are made to the students’ local
context and they are encouraged to take action
in meaningful ways.
The Role of the Teacher
“...these are community spaces
where traditional hierarchical
classroom roles are blurred and
learning is transformed.”
Doering, 2006
Benefits of Adventure Learning
•Research suggests students become
more assertive, directive, enthusiastic,
and motivated as they collaborate with
others globally (Doering, 2005).
•Traditional field trips are often not
possible. AL affords students the ability
to learn about their world through
authentic, real-time content.
Passions ---> Action
The Flying Classroom
http://flyingclassroom.com
Earthducation
http://lt.umn.edu/earthducation/
GoNorth! Adventure Learning
http://www.polarhusky.com/
Impossible2Possible
http://impossible2possible.com/expeditions
The Wilderness Classroom
http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/
Ride to Learn Program
http://ride2learn.org/
What do you know about Tasmania?
http://padlet.com/crawforde1/tasmania
The Tasmania Adventure...
https://vimeo.com/73070641
Geographic Literacy
https://education.skype.com/collections/mystery-skypes
Testing the Curriculum
The Beautiful Nation Project
http://www.beautifulnationproject.org
Getting Started with the BNP
http://www.beautifulnationproject.org/educator
Sample Essential Questions
• What do we see in nature?
• How do people get around?
• How does where you live affect how you
live?
• How are communities connected to their
environment?
Sample Channels
Sample Planning
Students are building their
content knowledge based
upon their chosen channel,
determining how it relates to
elementary academic
standards.
As an introductory exercise,
each channel created
flipped instruction
presentations.
Here is one created using
Shadow Puppet.
http://get-puppet.com/
Curriculum Mapping Wheel
https://sites.google.com/site/reachtheworldclassroom/maps/maps
Curriculum Mapping Wheel
start at
7:44
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1fzGpnZC0c#t=354
Sample Planning
•Essential question: How are communities
connected to their environment?
•Geographic location: France
•Real-world topics of interest: Eiffel
Tower, architecture
•Curricular connections: scale model
building; ratios; vocabulary
•Learning activities: field trips; books
about local historical sites
• Assessment: Write an essay on the
value of the preservation of x local
historical site and the role of the
government and community.
Let’s Practice!
https://uncw.titanpad.com/3
Questions?
Comments?
Contact Information
Dr. Elizabeth O. Crawford
Assistant Professor
UNC Wilmington
Department of Early Childhood,
Elementary, Middle Level,
Literacy, and Special Education
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403
EB 267
910.962.2916
crawforde@uncw.edu