Relation Between the School Environment and the Children's Behaviour

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioural outcomes in outdoor education compared with the traditional indoor school condition. 12 children were observed intensively during three days with outdoor education and four days with the indoor condition. Results showed that different organization of the educational environment affected the children’s behaviour in various ways, such as levels of physical activity, concentration, being at ease in the situation, verbal and motor agitation, emotional expressions and communication. Outdoor education influenced behavioural changes in a positive direction. During outdoor education, there were only minor differences between leisure time and pedagogical time, with the most desired result in leisure time. In classroom, the difference was enormous, with the most desired results in leisure time.

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