5th-10th-grade in-service teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for sustainable development in outdoor environment

• Published in: Journal of adventure education and outdoor learning 2020-07, Vol.20 (3), p.274-283
• Main Authors: Aksland, Charlotte, Chang Rundgren, Shu-Nu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5th; 5th- to 10th-grade teachers; Active Learning; Elementary School Teachers; Foreign Countries; Grade 10; Grade 5; Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; In-service; Inquiry; Learning Activities; Outdoor Education; outdoor environment; outdoor teaching; Pedagogical Content Knowledge; pedagogical content knowledge (PCK); Pollution; Scientific Concepts; Secondary School Teachers; Student Evaluation; Sustainable Development; Teacher Attitudes; Teaching Experience; to 10th-grade teachers
• ISSN: 1472-9679; 1754-0402; 1754-0402
• DOI: 10.1080/14729679.2019.1697713

Teachers' experiences and attitudes play a critical role in outdoor education. In this study, we aim to explore how 5th-10th-grade (10-15 years-old students) teachers use the natural environment in their teaching practices, with special attention to the link to sustainable development (SD). In total, 42 in-service teachers were invited to participate in the study. The data collection was based on the participating teachers' individual written texts concerning their previous outdoor teaching practices, the link to SD and the related assessments. Based on content analysis, three main themes emerged from the data, including (1) teaching biology/ecology concepts, (2) exploring visible pollution and (3) applying a context- and inquiry-based approach. However, we found that outdoor teaching was scarcely linked to SD. The research results' implications for outdoor education and teachers' professional development are discussed in this paper.