Action Research: The Application of Adventure Education in Learning Area of
Integrated Activities in Junior High Schools
Abstract
The current research was conducted based on a self -constructed curriculum, The Lesson Plans of Application of Adventure Educationin Learning Area of Integrated Activities, on 37 (male = 20, female = 17) seventh graders for twelve weeks (a total of 24 formal sessions). One orientation and one review session were also conducted prior to and after the formal curriculum. The goals of the current action research are six-folded: (a) to design an age-appropriate Adventure Educationin curriculum in the application of Learning Area of Integrated Activities; (b) to examine how this curriculum may help students establish interpersonal connection and reach consensus among each other within a short time; (c) to investigate how this curriculum may help students understand and affirm self as well as appreciate others; (d) to explore how this curriculum may improve students¡¦ teamwork and problem-solving capacities; (e) to study how this curriculum may help students discover the mystery of Nature and subsequently elicit the emotions and behaviors of cherishing Nature; and (f) to provide concrete recommendations to the implementation of Adventure Educationin curriculum in junior high schools.
In addition to on-site observation, focus interviews were conducted on the students, lead teachers, subject teachers, and co-investigators. Information gathered from the observation notes, interview transcripts, reflection diary, student posters, self-portrait, and learning sheets was analyzed and interpreted. The research findings confirmed the six goals listed above. Specifically, the results revealed that: (a) it is feasible to design an age-appropriate Adventure Educationin curriculum in the application of Learning Area of Integrated Activities through the indicators of Learning Area and the principles of experiential learning; (b) the students in the current study established mutual understanding and interpersonal connection, discussed group-oriented ground rules, as well as reached consensus in a short time; (c) the students in the current study enhanced their self-understanding, active listening, as well as a sense of self-appreciation and appreciation to others; (d) the students in the current study developed a sense of teamwork, trust, and safety as well as positive problem-solving capabilities; (e) the students in the current study discovered the mystery of Nature, yielded emotions and behaviors of cherishing Nature, and learned how to create joy through the natural environment; and (f) the students in the current study learned how to apply what they have learned in the curriculum to daily life.
At last, recommendations and implications regarding application of Adventure Educationin curriculum in junior high school settings are discussed.
Key Word¡GAdventure Education¡BIntegrated Activities Learning Area
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NSYSU/oai:NSYSU:etd-0724107-233033 |
| Date | 24 July 2007 |
| Creators | Hui, Kang-shu |
| Contributors | Chou-pei Yi, Tasi-ju Tse, Rau-meng Shia |
| Publisher | NSYSU |
| Source Sets | NSYSU Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive |
| Language | Cholon |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lib.nsysu.edu.tw/ETD-db/ETD-search/view_etd?URN=etd-0724107-233033 |
| Rights | withheld, Copyright information available at source archive |
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