1. Multicultural Issues in Outdoor Education. ERIC Digest.
- Author
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ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools, Charleston, WV., Roberts, Nina S., and Rodriguez, Donald A.
- Abstract
The 1990s saw the outdoor education community undergo a process of critical redefinition as it attempted to address multicultural issues. This digest defines multicultural education, reviews the current status of multicultural diversity in outdoor education, poses questions for researchers and practitioners, and offers suggestions for relevant change strategies. Among the various types of multicultural education programs, socially oriented programs that reduce bias have the most in common with outdoor education. The power of outdoor education resides in providing opportunities for diverse participants to cooperate in problem solving, to exercise critical thinking skills, and to develop communication skills within the group. Despite the potential importance of multiculturalism in outdoor education, the issue has received limited attention from researchers. Research is needed in the areas of culturally diverse pedagogies that could reshape basic theories and practices of outdoor education, respectful and accurate use of cultural elements in outdoor programs, incorporation of multiculturalism into outdoor environmental programs, and impacts of outdoor education on diverse participants. Ten strategies and principles are listed to help organizations and programs move toward multiculturalism. (Contains 17 references.) (SV)
- Published
- 1999