Pupils’ Well-Being, Mental and Social Health

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of this chapter is to present research results on pupils’ well-being and health when integrating regular education outside the classroom (i.e. udeskole) into teaching. We believe that this chapter may be of particular interest to government employees (consultants), municipalities, school principals and teachers, teacher trainers and educators seeking arguments for and against outdoor teaching and learning. The argument is based on both empirical studies of pupils’ well-being, mental and social health, and theoretical assumptions (mainly the so-called Self-Determination Theory). Three key questions will be the focal points of the chapter: Is udeskole a viable approach to strengthen pupils’ well-being, mental and social health? Does udeskole have a demonstrable impact on pupils’ well-being, mental and social health? Should education outside the classroom be a regular applied practice in schools? In schools in several western countries, but especially in Scandinavia, udeskole is a teaching method, which is increasingly used both for its learning and health potentials. In this chapter, we focus on the importance of udeskole, based on relevant results from the Danish TEACHOUT research study. Although Danish children generally thrive and have high levels of mental and social health, initiatives are still needed to promote an even more positive school experience for every child. Early prevention of psychosocial illness is on the political agenda and school is considered a major arena for initiatives aimed at promoting mental and social health. The results of the TEACHOUT study show that if teaching outside the classroom is made a regular component of the annual plan, it can be expected to have a positive impact on pupils’ social well-being and intrinsic school motivation. It is still too early to determine whether udeskole has a real effect on the formation of friendships in the classroom community. However, the TEACHOUT study shows a small but significant increase in the number of new in-class friendships. Based on the Self-Determination Theory, we provide an understanding of the reasons why udeskole can have a positive effect on pupil well-being, mental and social health.