Outdoor Science Education for Healthy Children

(Bio-Explo Trial)

Overseen By Jean-Philippe Ayotte-Beaudet

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Université de Sherbrooke

Disqualifiers: Alternative schools, non-Francophone students

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

1000 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether learning science outdoors can enhance children's learning and well-being compared to traditional indoor classes. The researchers aim to determine if being outside helps students make better observations of nature and feel more connected to it, while also reducing stress and eco-anxiety. Students will spend two hours a week for five weeks learning either outdoors or indoors, followed by a field trip to observe living organisms. Schools in Montreal, Longueuil, or Laval with a certain deprivation index, and teachers interested in outdoor education, especially those teaching 5th and 6th graders, are well-suited for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for students to experience innovative educational methods that could enhance their learning and well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this outdoor science education intervention is safe for children?

Research shows that outdoor science education is safe and beneficial for children. Studies have found that learning outside can enhance both physical and mental health, with 72% of participants reporting these benefits. Additionally, students in outdoor education programs often achieve higher science test scores and develop better social skills. No evidence of safety issues exists, making outdoor education a well-accepted method. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how outdoor science education might impact children's health and learning differently than traditional indoor classroom-based education. Outdoor education could potentially enhance engagement and retention by making learning more interactive and connected to real-world experiences. Additionally, being outdoors might have added benefits like increased physical activity and exposure to natural light, which are linked to better overall well-being. By comparing these two educational settings, the trial aims to uncover whether outdoor learning offers unique advantages that could improve educational outcomes and health for children.

What evidence suggests that this trial's education interventions could be effective for improving children's learning and well-being?

Research has shown that learning science outdoors benefits students in many ways. In this trial, participants will either engage in outdoor science education or indoor classroom-based science education. Studies have found that outdoor learning boosts confidence and self-esteem and helps students perform better academically. Students involved in outdoor education often form strong friendships and exhibit fewer behavior issues. Additionally, learning outside is linked to higher student satisfaction and interest. These findings suggest that outdoor science education can enhance both learning and well-being in children. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jean-Philippe Ayotte-Beaudet, PhD

Principal Investigator

Université de Sherbrooke

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy primary school children. It's designed to see if learning science outside affects their understanding of nature, feelings about the environment (eco-anxiety), and stress levels compared to learning inside a classroom.

Inclusion Criteria

Primary schools need to have a deprivation index equal to or superior to 1 (with 10 being the maximum) and be located in Montreal, Longueuil or Laval (QC)

Only 5th and 6th grade teachers are included

Primary schools with two teachers interested in participating in the project

Exclusion Criteria

Alternative schools or those welcoming recently arrived non-Francophone students are not included

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a science education intervention 2h/week for a total of 5 weeks, either indoors or outdoors

5 weeks

5 sessions (in-person)

Field Day-Trip

Participants participate in a field day-trip after the intervention where they will be asked to observe living organisms

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in stress, connection to nature, and eco-anxiety after the intervention

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Indoor Classroom-Based Science Education
• Outdoor Science Education

Trial Overview The study compares outdoor science education with traditional indoor classroom-based teaching. Over five weeks, kids will have two hours of science lessons each week in either setting. Afterward, they'll go on a field trip to apply what they've learned by observing living organisms.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Outdoor science education Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

2h of outdoor science education intervention per week for a total of 5 weeks (following Québec's mandatory curriculum)

Group II: Indoor classroom-based science education Active Control 1 Intervention

2h of indoor science education intervention per week for a total of 5 weeks (following Québec's mandatory curriculum)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Université de Sherbrooke

Lead Sponsor

Trials

317

Recruited

79,300+

Citations

1. air.org air.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Outdoorschoolreport_0.pdf

Effects of Outdoor Education Programs on Children in ... These included increased confidence and self-esteem, positive relationships among students, and reduced discipline and behavior problems. Teachers reported that ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9149177/

Getting Out of the Classroom and Into Nature: A Systematic ... Nature-specific outdoor learning has measurable socio-emotional, academic and wellbeing benefits, and should be incorporated into every child's school ...

3. files.eric.ed.gov files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1441416.pdf

Implementation and Outcomes of Outdoor Science ... - ERIC This study aims to explore the academic, social, and emotional benefits of outdoor science education on students with EBD. ... According to the ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149718923001039

What makes students happy in outdoor environmental ... This study analyzes student satisfaction with four outdoor environmental education programs in the Czech Republic.

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/8/1060

The Effects of Outdoor Teaching on Academic ... In this article, we examine the available data to assess the effects of outdoor teaching on students' learning. Our approach is original in that most existing ...

6. dunaway.com dunaway.com/news_insights/outside-the-classroom-the-impact-of-outdoor-learning-and-campus-safety/

The Impact of Outdoor Learning and Campus Safety 72% reported improved physical and mental health (National Wildlife Federation); 27% increase in science test scores from outdoor learning ( ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11652364/

Supporting children's wellbeing through outdoor time Several recent reviews have found generally positive impacts on students' mental and physical health, cognitive development, and academic ...

8. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13504622.2022.2099530

Barriers to children's outdoor time: teachers' and principals' ... This study reports on barriers identified during the development phase of an action research project that aimed to increase outdoor time.

9. digitalcommons.hamline.edu digitalcommons.hamline.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1934&context=hse_cp

Outdoor Education and the Effects on Social-Emotional ... This research explores how outdoor education, using the outdoors as a learning context, can contribute to better social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes in ...