Technology and the Outdoors - It’s a Balance

by Thad Falkner, Head of School

Adults can feel constrained by the amounts of time spent in an office and burdened with the time spent on mobile devices, laptops, and other digital tools.   Unfortunately, school can mimic this experience.  It’s best to provide children time and opportunities to discover through different modalities and explore the world in different settings and through outdoor activities.  

At Wilson, students explore and learn through a balance of approaches, beyond teacher-led, in-classroom instruction.  Whether they are making observations in our outdoor classroom, recording digital compositions, conducting a simulated archaeological dig, or noting seasonal changes while hiking through Kennedy Forest, Wilson students have the advantage of balanced learning experiences.   

“Wilson consistently engages the students in a variety of activities, so they can learn in and outside of the classroom.”  SK parent

At Wilson, technology and the outdoors overlap.  Because Wilson teachers are creative, innovative, and experts in their field, they find numerous ways to blend these approaches for a balanced outcome:

• Senior kindergarten students take iPads with them on their hikes through the Kennedy Forest in Forest Park.  Students photograph the forest in the different seasons and compare and discuss their observations.
• In P.E., students use heart rate monitors to analyze and evaluate the relationship between activity and heart rate.  This allows them to make adjustments as needed and to immediately see the result.
• During the 6th grade photography unit, students take their cameras on outdoor school trips to document and put into practice the principles and elements of photography.  Each student creates a photography portfolio online to share with the world.

Think outside the box and get into the sandbox

Here are some ideas and creative ways you can encourage learning with your child away from a screen while keeping it fun and intriguing.

1. Let the creative juices flow!  Write a poem outdoors.  Bring a sketchbook and create artwork “en plein air” like the French impressionists.  Go on a nature hike and collect items to make a seasonal wreath or collage - be on the lookout for sticks, leaves, and pinecones.
2. Dine al fresco.  Children enjoy helping to pack a picnic lunch.  You can also make it an outdoor dinner while watching the sunset.
3. Be active!  Rake a pile of leaves and jump away.  Draw a map and go outside to follow it.  Do you need to have a car wash for large riding toys?  Get out the bikes and pedal through the park.  Take a long hike on the trail.
4. ABC, Follow Me!  Go on an alphabetical adventure, and see your surroundings in a new way by cataloging your neighborhood from A to Z.  As you walk, keep a list of your findings, whether signs for businesses, types of vehicles, or actual artifacts such as acorns. (For an added challenge, you may attempt to find the items in alphabetical order.)
5. Take my Advice.  Read "Advice From a Tree" (there are many versions of this), and then write advice from another item/organism's perspective.  This can be a fun way to consider another view on or from the most ordinary of things.
6. Skip to my Lou: Practice skip counting while... skipping!  You've heard of Flat Stanley, no doubt, and Lou is a great way to motivate children to solidify some of their math knowledge. Counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s is relatively easy, but how far can you go with your 3s? Your 6s? Your 9s? There are multiple ways to challenge your child.

 
Was this information helpful?  What has your child found most exciting when exploring and learning about the world around them?