Thread by @NishaOttawa

🧵Great interest in #OutdoorLearning in ON

It supports a positive dynamic btw health, wellbeing + education

My bias: also valuable for unparalleled air changes😉

Yet out-of-the-[school]-box models are more than desks outside (good start though!)

https://twitter.com/NishaOttawa/status/1273446268702986241?s=20

1/

Let's see where #OutdoorLearning falls within the hierarchy of [infectious] hazard controls

Ventilation is usually considered an engineering control

But outdoor learning changes the way students and staff work, so one could argue it's an administrative control too
#twofer
2/

BENEFITS of #OutdoorLearning include:
1) higher ventilation
2) improved air quality
= better mental/physical health outcomes AND reduced infection risk

Evidence in table 👇🏾
(from a useful paper in @DavidElfstrom's useful🧵- suggest reading both!):

https://twitter.com/DavidElfstrom/status/1394818013933801475?s=20

3/

I see other benefits:
✅respect for land
✅recognition of humans as stewards of natural resources
✅potentially lower running costs

🌟✅outdoor spaces accessible to racialized communities vs traditional leisurely🇨🇦 activities

👆🏾would have made a difference in my early years

4/

BUT:

There are context-specific factors a/w "unequal socio-spatial distribution of urban green space" that limit opportunities for outdoor learning.

It takes resources (expertise, time and $$) to explore and address.
h/t @PrachiSrivas

[quote from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…]

5/

So what sustains outdoor learning models?
1) Engagement to take and keep learning outdoors
- city authorities (e.g. parks & rec)
- PH
- ed admin (Ministry/school boards)

E.g. from similar climates:
Scandinavia: childrenandnature.org/resources/udes…
Scotland:

https://twitter.com/NishaOttawa/status/1321825874325458945?s=20

AND

6/

2) Govt investment in this model as part of an integrated approach to healthier schools

Nova Scotia led the charge on this recently, and I hope it thrives

Keen to see if lessons learned can be applied to urban/rural/remote settings in other provinces:
novascotia.ca/news/release/?…
7/

Improving ventilation isn't limited to indoors or warm weather

I'd love to hear from educators + others about experiences with #OutdoorLearning

Unless we are socialised to this model, we may never fully appreciate and advocate for its value in infection prevention + pedagogy
8/

Excellent interview about the benefits of outdoor learning from @bienenstock, who's been in the field (no pun intended 🤦🏾‍♀️) for a long while

https://twitter.com/globalnewsto/status/1379799874787368966?s=19