Peer-reviewed research2017–2026 update
‘Do you need a kayak to learn outside?’: a literature review into learning outside the classroom
A review of international research on learning outside the classroom finds a bias towards hard-to-measure outcomes and weak attention to theory and philosophy.
What's new
This literature review distils international research on learning outside the classroom and suggests where future studies could be focused. The authors found a strong bias towards types of learning that largely cannot be measured. Only a minority of the published research they reviewed paid the attention to theoretical and philosophical foundations found in most other educational research.
Why it matters in Aotearoa
Sector leaders and researchers in Aotearoa making the case for EOTC need to know where the evidence is thin. The review encourages clearer theory and better-defined outcomes in future New Zealand studies.
Putting it into practice
When evaluating an EOTC programme, state the learning theory behind it and choose at least one outcome you can actually measure.
How strong is the evidence
A literature review. The abstract does not state how many studies were included or how they were selected.
What to read
The full article, especially the critique of theory and measurement.