Abstract
Background: An emerging field of research indicates that the use of learning environments other than the classroom can improve pupils’ academic achievement in several subjects, including their skills in mathematics.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Education Outside the Classroom (EOtC) and pupils’ skills in mathematics.
Methods: This explorative, quasi-experimental study involved schoolchildren (aged 9–13 years) from 15 Danish public schools who participated in EOtC over the course of a school year. The mathematical skills of pupils from 23 EOtC maths intervention classes (n=421) and 12 EOtC non-maths comparison classes (n=198) were measured at the start and end of the 2014–2015 school year.
Results: Both groups showed improved maths skills; however, we found no significant difference between the EOtC maths and the comparison groups.
Conclusion: The results indicate that, in this explorative study, moving maths teaching outside the classroom neither harmed nor improved pupils’ mathematical skills. These results and implications for research are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Educational Research |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 38-52 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| ISSN | 0013-1881 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jan 2019 |
Keywords
- Assessment
- Learning
- Mathematics
- Outdoor education
- Schoolchildren
- Teaching