Most definitely Richard Louv's book entitled Last Child in the Woods, Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder is a frequently cited and quoted author in the research articles I have been reading. The book has strengthened the international campaign to get kids back to nature. But the resource I find myself going back to the most is Kevin J. Coyle's study called Digital Technology’s Role in Connecting Children and Adults to Nature and the Outdoors. I'm using many of the resources he lists to learn more about the topic. If you are interested in taking a look, it's available on the Web. It contains many of Louv's ideas, but goes on to discuss how educators can best develop nature apps that actually do help connect kids to nature and give them more powerful, direct experiences there. A lot about what I read this weekend has been about the ontological and epistemological, (I had to look these terms up), questions that revolve around the direct experience of nature vs a technology mediated experience. Phillip G. Payne's study called The technics of environmental education goes deeply into this. It was a difficult read. Here's his abstract:
"An ambivalent, sometimes destructive, relationship between modern humanity, technology and `outer' or external nature has historically attracted the critical attention of scholars and commentators from a wide variety of backgrounds. The effects of technology on postmodern `inner' nature warrants similar scrutiny. This article examines how technology structures human experience and is structuring education for sustainable development. Propositions about the `technics of experience' and questions for environmental education are posed so as to invite more earnest discussion about the inroads technologies and `vicarious' learning experiences are making into the equally unproblematic ontological treatment of postmodern learners/subjects. Consideration must be given to the question of what users of the technological medium `become'—an ontological issue of crucial relevance to the ongoing aspirations and legitimacy of environmental education." Coyle's work seems to resolve these deep questions through his presentation of thoughtful guidelines for nature app development. These guidelines address the need for apps to support children's direct experience of nature.
3 Comments
Kathy Martin
10/22/2019 09:55:39 am
I love that you are trying to get your students back into nature. I agree, that kids are not having as many experiences outside exploring nature. Kids are so focused on their video games, phones, or are so overbooked, that they don't have the time available to just explore. It would be great if there was a way that we could combine our experiences outdoors with our love for technology.
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Joel
10/23/2019 08:07:16 am
I love your topic Jeremy, I didn't realize that Nature Deficit Disorder was "a thing" but it makes total sense. Please keep us updated on your findings, I look forward to implementing some of your strategies. I will also give a look at the text you mentioned "Digital Technology’s Role in Connecting Children and Adults to Nature and the Outdoors".
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Peter Abboud
10/23/2019 06:25:57 pm
This is an interesting topic and not one that I know has a lot of research.... You are trail blazing!
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AuthorJeremy Smith teaches third grade at Calistoga Elementary School. Archives
July 2020
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