Abstract
This study examined how adventure educators could use systematic feedback to improve their teaching skills. Evaluative instruments demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in teaching skills when applied at an outdoor education center in Western Canada. Concurrent focus group interviews enabled instructors to reflect on student feedback to improve teaching in subsequent courses. Instructors had the opportunity to share their experiences, thereby solidifying their learning and validating their practices. The triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data yielded a descriptive model of the reflective process, featuring multiple channels for repeated, systematic feedback to promote continuous reflection. Creating group opportunities for adventure educators to share their teaching experiences is recommended to facilitate instructional improvement, boost staff morale, and instill a sense of professionalism.
|
Attarian, A. (1996). Using importance-performance analysis to evaluate teaching effectiveness. Proceedings of the 1995 International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education. Google Scholar | |
|
Bialeschki, M. D., Henderson, K. A., Hickerson, B. D., Browne, L. (2012). Challenges to field-based outdoor research: Pitfalls and possibilities. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 4, 74-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.7768/1948-5123.1094 Google Scholar | |
|
Bobilya, A. J., Holman, T., Lindsey, B., McAvoy, L. (2010). Developing trends and issues in U.S. outdoor and adventure-based programming. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 2, 301-321. http://dx.doi.org/10.7768/1948-5123.1038 Google Scholar | |
|
Brackenreg, M., Luckner, J., Pinch, K. (1994). Essential skills for processing adventure experiences. Journal of Experiential Education, 17(3), 45-47. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Creswell, J., Plano-Clark, V. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Google Scholar | |
|
Distad, L. S., Brownstein, J. C. (2004). Talking teaching: Implementing reflective practice in groups. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Education. Google Scholar | |
|
Doherty, K. (1995). A quantitative analysis of three teaching styles. Journal of Experiential Education, 18(12), 12-19. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Drury, J. K., Bonney, B. F., Berman, D., Wagstaff, M. C. (Eds.). (2005). The backcountry classroom: Lessons, tools and activities for teaching outdoor leaders (2nd ed.). Guildford, CT: Falcon Guide. Google Scholar | |
|
Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. London, England: Further Education Unit. Google Scholar | |
|
Johns, C. (2004). Becoming a reflective practitioner (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Google Scholar | |
|
Joplin, L. (1981). On defining experiential education. Journal of Experiential Education, 4(1), 17-20. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Kolb, D. (1984). Experiential learning. Experiences as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Google Scholar | |
|
Kreuger, R., Casey, M. (2009). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Google Scholar | |
|
McKeachie, W. J. (1987). Can evaluating instruction improve teaching? New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 1987(31), 3-7. doi:10.1002/tl.37219873103 Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
McKenzie, M. D. (2000). How are adventure education program outcomes achieved?: A review of the literature. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 5, 19-28. Retrieved from https://www.wilderdom.com/pdf/McKenzie2000AJOEVol5No1.pdf Google Scholar | |
|
McKenzie, M. (2003). Beyond “the outward bound process”: Rethinking student learning. Journal of Experiential Education, 26(1), 8-23. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Teddlie, C. (2003). A framework for analyzing data in mixed methods research. In Tashakori, A., Teddlie, C. (Eds.), Handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research (pp. 351-383). Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=F8BFOM8DCKoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA351&dq=Onwuegbuzie+and+Teddlie+2003&ots=gTfOywrAKb&sig=QkmD59acKCoWjvOWzbnNt-yCsLM#v=onepage&q=Onwuegbuzie%20and%20Teddlie%202003&f=false Google Scholar | |
|
Paisley, K., Sibthorp, J., Furman, N., Schumann, S. (2008). Student learning in outdoor education: A case study from the National Outdoor Leadership School. Journal of Experiential Education, 30(3), 201-222. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Paisley, K., Sibthorp, J., Furman, N., Schumann, S., Gookin, J. (2008). Predictors of participant development through adventure education: Replication and extension of previous findings from NOLS. Research in Outdoor Education. Retrieved from http://www2.cortland.edu/dotAsset/4a9cd94d-fa3b-489b-b300-cb5411458892.pdf#page=15 Google Scholar | |
|
Pelchat, C., Karp, G. G. (2012). Using critical action research to enhance outdoor adventure education instructional practice. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 4(3), 199-219. http://dx.doi.org/10.7768/1948-5123.1125 Google Scholar | |
|
Phipps, M. L., Claxton, D. B. (1997). An investigation into instructor effectiveness. Journal of Experiential Education, 20(1), 40-46, 50. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Phipps, M. L., Hayashi, A., Lewandoski, A., Padgett, A. H. (2005). Teaching and evaluating instructor effectiveness using the Instructor Effectiveness Questionnaire and the Instructor Effectiveness Check Sheet combination. Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning, 5(1), 51-64. Retrieved from http://www.whitewater-rescue.com/support/pagepics/ieqarticle.pdf Google Scholar | |
|
Pintrich, P. (2002). The role of metacognitive knowledge in learning, teaching, and assessing. Theory Into Practice, 41, 219-225. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Priest, S., Gass, M. (2005). Effective leadership in adventure programming (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Google Scholar | |
|
Schön, D. A. (1987). Educating the reflective practitioner. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Google Scholar | |
|
Schumann, S., Millard, N. M. (2012). The nature of feedback in adventure-based education. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 4, 120-123. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Schumann, S., Paisley, K., Sibthorp, J., Gookin, J. (2009). Instructor influences on student learning at NOLS. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 1, 15-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.7768/1948-5123.1015 Google Scholar | |
|
Sibthorp, J., Furman, N., Paisley, K., Gookin, J., Schumann, J. (2011). Mechanisms of learning transfer in adventure education: Qualitative results from the NOLS Transfer Survey. Journal of Experiential Education, 34(2), 109-126. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Thompson, S., Thompson, N. (2008). The critically reflective practitioner. Hampshire, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Walsh, V., Golins, G. (1976). The exploration of the Outward Bound process. Denver: Colorado Outward Bound School. Google Scholar |

