Outdoor Learning Debut: Launch of Fresh Al Fresco Classroom
The Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU) has recently unveiled its new Outdoor Classroom, marking a significant step forward in experiential education. Initiated by Prof. Klaus Meier and Heiner Böttger, the Outdoor Classroom is part of the Outdoor Campus and offers a unique learning environment that extends beyond traditional indoor settings.
One of the key initiatives that embodies this innovative approach is the Service Learning project SKYSS. This project, which stands for a project focused on social responsibility, environmental education, and sustainability, is an example of the concept of Service Learning.
SKYSS provides practical learning spaces and enhances experiential education by engaging students in real-world tasks related to the environment and local communities. By learning outdoors, students can absorb content more intensely and engage all their senses, fostering a deeper understanding of ecological, social, and cultural systems.
The Outdoor Classroom, located on a height near the central library of the KU, has already been utilized for seminars and teaching units. A class from the Mittelschule Schottenau has already tested the Outdoor Classroom, while Service Learning projects with local schools, such as primary school Nassenfels and middle school Schottenau, were presented during the opening ceremony.
The collaboration between KU and the vocational school is an integral part of the Outdoor Classroom project. The teacher in charge of the project, Klemens Schreiner, designed and built the benches for the Outdoor Classroom with the help of woodworking and metalworking classes from the vocational school.
The Outdoor Classroom is not just a standalone project; it is part of KU's broader commitment to shaping the education of the future. The university is part of Uniservitate, a global network of Catholic educational institutions dedicated to the theme of Service Learning. Initiatives such as the chicken project and Fairtrade School further illustrate KU's dedication to fostering social responsibility and sustainability.
Dr. Petra Hiebl, director of the Center for Teacher Education (ZLB), emphasized the benefits of learning outdoors in her welcome speech. Movement, fresh air, and an open environment can promote concentration, creativity, team spirit, and social interaction. Learning through engagement, as presented by Maria Müller-Pulsfuß during the opening ceremony, is at the heart of KU's approach to education.
Further schools are invited to use the Outdoor Classroom, making it an accessible platform for immersive, experiential learning for students across various educational institutions. The Outdoor Campus, with its new addition, offers a unique opportunity for students to connect with nature while deepening their understanding of academic subjects.
The Service Learning project SKYSS, any part of KU's Outdoor Campus, embodies education-and-self-development through learning, engaging students in real-world tasks related to the environment and local communities. By utilizing the Outdoor Classroom, students can intensify their learning and improve their comprehension of ecological, social, and cultural systems, fostering a deeper understanding of the world.
