Utomhuspedagogik : Pedagogernas förhållningsätt och praktiska arbete

Sammanfattning: Globalization and technology advancement has brought both benefits and dilemma to our society. It has vastly revolutionized the lifestyle of the individual and made children spend more time in front of the television and with their gadgets, compared to the lifestyle fifty years ago. Corollary to the alarming effects of technology on children’s behaviour, social development and health, outdoor pedagogy has gained popularity in schools and preschools in Sweden. Outdoor pedagogy addresses the increasing need to encourage children to lead a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. However, the potential of outdoor pedagogy remains either unutilized or not fully realized in Swedish preschools. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how preschool pedagogues in two rain or shine-preschools think about outdoor pedagogy and how their perspectives influence the way they teach. Three research questions have been formulated in order to investigate the purpose: What are the pedagogues’ perceptions of outdoor pedagogy in the investigated preschools? What learning tools are being implemented by the pedagogues of rain or shine-preschools to advance outdoor pedagogy? What strategies are used by the pedagogues in order to handle the challenges in advancing outdoor pedagogy?  A qualitative method is used in this study where data is collected through interviews and observations. The study is carried out in two rain or shine-preschools within Stockholm with four informants that agreed to participate in the study. A sociocultural perspective, John Dewey’s progressivism and “learning by doing” are drawn from, to interpret the collected data.  This study came into the conclusions that the pedagogues’ show awareness of the positive benefits of the outdoor pedagogy. The study also shows that the prerequisites for a good quality of an outdoor pedagogy emanates from the pedagogues’ interest, experience, education and role as a child’s co-discoverer, co-existent individual, co-actor and co-thinker. Attaining the goals in lesson plan for preschools is regarded by the pedagogues as significant in formulating their daily activities where natural resources are being utilized. Competency in outdoor pedagogy, innovativeness, spontaneity and flexibility are therefore considered an advantage due to the demanding factors affecting outdoor pedagogy like shortage of workforce in preschool, fluctuating weather conditions and other factors affecting the child’s behaviour.