In cooperation with the Karel Komárek Family Foundation (KKFF), the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (USB) has introduced a new course "Outdoor Education in the Kindergarten Environment" as the first in the Czech Republic. The organisations have thus become part of a wider systemic change in education, which aims to introduce outdoor education into the pedagogical process and to change society's view on this topic. Experts praise the steps because, as a result, they can improve the quality of teaching in kindergartens and have a positive impact on children's mental and physical development.
Modern pedagogy is constantly evolving. One area in which trends are literally teeming at the moment is outdoor education. The preparation of future teachers is an important condition for its wider introduction in Czech kindergartens. The University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice has decided to go in this direction, and will introduce future teachers to a new subject, not only why it is good to teach outdoors, but also how to work with children outdoors properly.
"The specific aim of the course is to teach students how to use the outdoor environment of the kindergarten as a natural space for learning, play, and the development of children. They will gain the skills to plan and implement outdoor learning, develop children's curiosity, and foster a relationship with nature. The course is also closely linked to practice. Students design their own activities to be implemented in the outdoor environment of the kindergarten, take part in a field trip to the inspiring kindergarten DUHA Soběslav and learn to create a school garden concept in the spirit of the philosophy "The garden is also a classroom". This approach develops the creativity, cooperation and responsibility of future kindergarten teachers," says Marie Najmonová, Head of the Department of Primary and Pre-Primary Education at the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia.
Cooperation on systemic change
Behind the creation of the new course is the cooperation between the USB and the KKFF Foundation. The latter has long promoted the idea that teaching outdoors, even more so in a high-quality school garden, is of irreplaceable importance for the healthy mental and physical development of children and building their relationship with nature. The Foundation is therefore bringing together experts in a multidisciplinary working group to lay the foundations for a wider systemic change in education, which it has initiated.
"The creation of a new subject is one piece of our thoughtfully constructed jigsaw puzzle, to which more elements are gradually being added. In addition to universities, we are also involving other relevant actors and experts. Together with them, we are trying to change the view of outdoor education across the education system," said Ivana Procházková, KKFF's programme manager, adding that the Foundation's kindergartens, which have undergone garden transformation in the past and practice outdoor education extensively, are also helping to spread the ideas.
The foundation does not only cooperate with the University of South Bohemia in the multidisciplinary group. It meets with representatives of other universities, the state administration (including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Czech School Inspectorate), teachers, students of pedagogy, architects, and architecture students, or parents. The work of the group is based on many years of experience with the topic of outdoor education and scientific knowledge.
What does the data say?
"Being outdoors for pre-school children is an absolutely essential element of their healthy development. It has a demonstrable effect, for example, on the development of social intelligence and empathy, which is now declining in our population. It also helps to reduce tension and stress. It reduces the activity of the frontal cortex of the brain, which is related to stress, and at the same time reduces the level of cortisol that accompanies greater stress," explains psychiatrist and lecturer at the 1st Medical Faculty of the Charles University, Vladimír Kmoch, adding that being in the garden provides a more sensory experience that smart boards in classrooms cannot replace.
According to the results of last year's survey of Czech children outdoors, commissioned by the KKFF Foundation, 34% of children do not get outside at all during school hours. This is because teachers are not sufficiently motivated to include outdoor education in their pupils' timetables. Having a suitable place near the school, such as an outdoor classroom, would help.
It is the lack of conditions in kindergartens for outdoor education that is also being kept in mind when working on systemic change. "Part of the systemic change is to create standards for school gardens. These will help kindergartens and founders to design school gardens to be of high quality and to meet the demands and trends of the 21st century," concluded Ludmila Třeštíková, head of the Ministry of Education's Strategy Department.
