Huntsley, Jennifer ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5613-5703 and Sors, Lucy (2026) From Campus to Community: An Interactive Workshop Exploring Creative Outdoor Pedagogies to Engage with Place, Inclusion and Environmental Justice. In: Talk About Teaching 2026: Engaging Our University Community, 15-16 June 2026, York St John University. (Unpublished)

Slideshow Sors & Huntsley From Campus to Community - TAT26.pptx - Presentation Download (100MB)

Abstract

This workshop offers an insight into the development of outdoor learning in Initial Teacher Education at York St John. Outdoor learning is offered to all Primary Education students, engaging future teachers in innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Our approach foregrounds climate and environmental justice, inclusion and community engagement.

The workshop begins with a short theoretical input, followed by hands-on learning activities that invite participants to interact, engage and reflect on alternative pedagogical approaches. We demonstrate how outdoor learning supports place-responsive pedagogy and experiential learning, while introducing concepts such as slow pedagogy and world-centred, sustainable education.

Key theories are introduced alongside our research (Sors, Huntsley & Jach, 2025), illustrating how collaborative and responsive curriculum design in Higher Education can effectively interweave research with experiential and authentic learning experiences.

The main focus of the workshop is experiential, contextualising place-responsive pedagogy as an innovative educational approach.  Open and ‘slow’ pedagogical practices, guided by facilitators, will enable diverse responses from participants as they explore provocations and resources. These approaches foster incidental learning and opportunities for connection with nature, place, people and self.

Interactive experiences (where possible, outside) include:

The Forest Floor: Open-ended explorations to embed slow pedagogy;

The journey of a Snail: Designing a ‘micro-adventure’ to explore place-responsiveness and inclusion;

Take me to the beach: imaginative provocations focused on sustainability.

Each activity includes a practice take-away to support participants in applying alternative pedagogies in their own practice. The workshop concludes with a collaborative critical discussion exploring strengths and contestations arising from participants’ experiences.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
Status:	Unpublished
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1705-2286 Education and training of teachers L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2326.4-2330 Institutions of higher education
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/15398

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