Introducing a fifth pedagogy: experience-based strategies for facilitating learning in natural environments

Educators have identified four categories of ‘productive pedagogies’ that are considered to lead to authentic student engagement and learning in the classroom. This study was designed to explore and extend these pedagogies in the context of learning in natural environments, in particular, through the programs of Queensland Environmental Education Centres. In-depth interview and observation data were collected from students, classroom teachers and Centre teachers who had participated in twelve environmental education programs across Queensland, in order to identify the strategies that are most effective in facilitating learning in the natural environment. A fifth productive pedagogy category, “Experience-Based Learning”, is proposed. Experience-based learning is particularly important in addressing students’ environmental attitudes and actions. The implications for the delivery of environmental education programs both within and outside the classroom are discussed.