For a school in relation to the world. The state of the art of Outdoor Learning in Italy through an exploratory survey conducted with three networks of schools

Abstract

In the national panorama of the last few years, the topic of Outdoor Education & Learning has been included as a pedagogical approach that promotes active didactics, centrality of the learning subject, and a continuous relationship with the natural and
urban territory. This study reports the results of an exploratory survey launched in May 2023 to 240 schools belonging to three Networks of schools characterised by a common outdoor pedagogical vision and committed to fostering the reflective and professional development of teachers and the innovation of the school system. This survey is part of a larger research project, still in progress, promoted by Indire, the University of Bologna and the National Network of Outdoor Schools. The analysis of the data from the first approach to the field is able to offer an overview of the Italian schools involved and allow some key themes to be explored, such as the figure of the innovative teacher and the role of the Networks of Schools, anticipating some reflections on outdoor education in secondary schools.