This thesis reports on a qualitative study of the assessment practices in an outdoor education program at an independent school in Ontario. This thesis focuses on the experiences of students with assessment in the outdoor education context, including the range of assessment practices experienced by the students, the students’ perceptions of assessment, and the impacts of assessment on the students’ experiences in the outdoor education program. This study was conducted from October to December of 2008. Using a case study research design, data were collected through observations of class activities, interviews with teachers and students, and assessment documents and student journals. The study found that a wide range of assessment practices were used by the teachers in the study, with an emphasis on student-centered assessment practices such as self assessment, peer assessment, group debriefing, and authentic assessment. These assessment practices fostered a culture of assessment that students perceived to be fair and supportive of their learning. The findings of the study indicate that these types of assessments helped to create a community of learners within the classroom, encouraged the development of self-confidence among students, and promoted transfer of learning. The conclusions of the study suggest that the student-centered assessment practices used in this outdoor education program can provide a model for teachers aiming to develop a positive culture of assessment in their classrooms. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2009-06-08 14:39:20.455

Some Provincial Forests in southern Manitoba have become popular public recreational areas, yet little planning for that type of land use has been done. In Manitoba, all Provincial Forests have heretofore been managed with a specific forestry objective in mind, that is, the full utilization of the forest resource on a sustained-yield basis for the purpose of producing forestry products. Regulation of all other uses and activities, such as preserving wildlife habitat, watersheds, and wilderness recreation, is subsumed under a multi-use management approach. However, since multi-use is not clearly defined and has no guidelines for specific existing activities, most of these other uses and activities cannot be effectively administered. One of these other uses and activities is recreation. It is the focus of the study. During the 1970s and '80s recreational activities in some Provincial Forests increased dramatically, yet no recreation-oriented development strategy was devised to accommodate these activities. Clearly, Provincial Forests cannot continue to be adequately managed under the present forestry management mandate. The entire use-spectrum must be taken into account. A comprehensive and responsible recreational management strategy is vital in order to guide and direct growing recreational demands and protect the interests of all forest users. In this report, the Belair Provincial Forest is used as an example. A set of management guidelines for recreational use has been developed that could be applied to recreational management in Provincial Forests generally.

To meet the needs and demands of the costumer, accurate information about how much is available in stock is necessary. When the information in the system does not match the physical inventory, inventory inaccuracy occurs. Inventory inaccuracy is common among companies and may contribute to increased labor cost, excess inventory, production disruptions, waste of time, late deliveries, poor service and lost customers. The purpose of this study is to identify contributing factors to inventory inaccuracy for business with outdoor storage. The study also aims to investigate how efficiency factors can reduce the inventory inaccuracy for business with outdoor storage. A case study was conducted to answer the purpose. A company in the steel industry was chosen to examine inventory inaccuracy on business with outdoor storage. During the case study a series of interviews was conducted with employees and managers. Together with information from observations and documents the information from the interviews was compiled into flowcharts. Inventory inaccuracy affects companies with in many ways and leads to inefficiency. Incorrect inventory leads to unnecessary work and costs and can also contribute to a reduced efficiency for business with outdoor storage. Inventory inaccuracy may be reduced with continuous inventory checks, simplified processes, more automation, enhanced information and communication. Improved routines can also help reduce inventory inaccuracy. To increase efficiency, the staff must be seen as an important resource.

Some Provincial Forests in southern Manitoba have become popular public recreational areas, yet little planning for that type of land use has been done. In Manitoba, all Provincial Forests have heretofore been managed with a specific forestry objective in mind, that is, the full utilization of the forest resource on a sustained-yield basis for the purpose of producing forestry products. Regulation of all other uses and activities, such as preserving wildlife habitat, watersheds, and wilderness recreation, is subsumed under a multi-use management approach. However, since multi-use is not clearly defined and has no guidelines for specific existing activities, most of these other uses and activities cannot be effectively administered. One of these other uses and activities is recreation. It is the focus of the study. During the 1970s and '80s recreational activities in some Provincial Forests increased dramatically, yet no recreation-oriented development strategy was devised to accommodate these activities. Clearly, Provincial Forests cannot continue to be adequately managed under the present forestry management mandate. The entire use-spectrum must be taken into account. A comprehensive and responsible recreational management strategy is vital in order to guide and direct growing recreational demands and protect the interests of all forest users. In this report, the Belair Provincial Forest is used as an example. A set of management guidelines for recreational use has been developed that could be applied to recreational management in Provincial Forests generally.

In the aftermath of an acquired brain injury, many survivors and their family members struggle to maintain their preferred identities. This is particularly so given the relational nature of storytelling and the numerous power relations functioning to silence and restrict certain stories, while others are allowed to be told. This study employs a qualitative methodology, narrative constructionist inquiry, in order to examine the stories of three participants following their involvement in a multi-family outdoor adventure program for brain injury survivors. The aims of the program were to provide opportunities for families to engage in outdoor adventure activities together, such as hiking, sea kayaking and challenge courses, so they could strengthen their relationships with themselves, each other, and their communities. Through an exploration of their stories, valuable insights regarding the shifts in narrative identity that occurred following brain injury are illuminated. Further, reflections pertaining to the importance of social contexts, nature and adventure, and the value of hope in the construction of preferred identities are discussed. Finally, recommendations for future research and practice are offered. / Graduate

This thesis reports on a study designed to investigate the nature of environmental education (EE) at one well-established school board operated outdoor education centre called Faraway Dale located in Ontario, Canada. The specific research questions that guided the study were: (a) What are the structures that characterize environmental education for educators at the outdoor education centre? (b) What are the main understandings of environment and education that guide outdoor educators work with environmental education? (c) What are the tensions and contradictions of providing environmental education through an outdoor centre? The primary data sources for this study were the nine outdoor educators who work at the facility. A variety of data collecting strategies were used, over a period of five months, to re-present their experiences of providing EE. Analysis of the data revealed that the nature of EE at the outdoor centre is significantly different from what occurs in mainstream, indoor settings. The overall goal for environmental education at the outdoor centre is to foster a culture that leads to healthy people and healthy environments by encouraging a more equitable interplay among people and nature. This overall goal can be divided into three structures that characterize EE at the centre. These are: connecting people to the environment, encouraging a care-based relational orientation towards the environment, and building agency for living low consumption low impact lifestyles. The findings also confirm that the nature of EE which educators espouse and practice is directly linked to their understandings of the terms ‘environment’ and ‘education’. The major tensions and contradictions of providing EE in an outdoor context are also illuminated. The discussion focuses on the implications of the findings for theory, practice and research in EE and the work of outdoor educators in the field.

Interpersonal growth is one part of the definition of outdoor education. Collaboration and common purpose are key phrases in cooperation learning. Both those two teaching methods are including students’ social development. To find out the effects of teachers’ and students’ attitude toward cooperative learning in outdoor education, this study explores the benefits and limitations of group work in outdoor education theoretically. Also, this study explores the attitudes of teachers and students regarding group work in outdoor learning. Questionnaires were used to find the students’ opinion of group work in outdoor education, during the analysis of data, thematic analysis was conducted with interview data to find out teachers’ attitudes. The participates of this study mainly had a very positive attitude towards group work in outdoor education, although some limitations were identified, such as students sometimes lost focus, were absent or were less involved.

Thesis (M. U. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.U.R.P. 1979) from the Department of Architecture, University of Adelaide.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 159 p. : col. ill., col. maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 106-110).