Outdoor Education and Technological Innovation for Schools

Outdoor learning, especially in the early years of a child, is recognized to have a positive impact andcontribute to the child’s well-being as well as emotional and social development. Studies show that outdoor learning can promote positive mental health, reduce stress, anger and violence in children,lower the rates of depression, and also boost confidence and creativity. The past generation of children has benefited from the time spent outdoors, which wergreen yardsily accessible and used frequently. However, the current circumstances such as threats to safety of children, increased traffic, pollution and tied-up schedules has eventually led to children spending time indoors with a growing interest in electronic gadgets, therefore adapting a sedentary lifestyle. Moreover, the Covid-19 situation, has led to the closing of schools and to the introduction of online classrooms. As indoor classrooms are not reliable when it comes to ensuring the safety and protection of children from being infected, many schools are unable to reopen. It is required that we alter the current learning mode and utilize outdoor spaces for learning. Most often schoolyards and local green spaces are underutilized or left vacant. In urban areas where it is difficult to acquire vast open space, the utilization of parks and schoolyards for learning could be considered. The transformation and design of vacant green yards near schools to serve the purpose of classrooms, all year round despite the weather conditions, could be a potential way out of the situation. Moreover, these local green spaces are easily accessible and ensure safety. With many schools attempting to organize classes outdoors, it is relevant to explore the benefits of outdoor learning and how it could be implemented and attained efficiently in a space as elementary as a park or schoolyard. This project is an attempt to propose creative solutions to efficiently modify space in under-utilized local green spaces to outdoor learning spaces, in order to acknowledge and draw the benefits of outdoor learning for children and to encourage the same in the extended future. Moreover, this project is seen as an opportunity to resolve the problems faced by schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic.