Beyond the Classroom: Designing Outdoor Learning Spaces

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Join MRG Southeast for a presentation of “Beyond the Classroom: How Outdoor Learning Spaces Help Improve Student Performance & Wellbeing.”

Most workplaces, educational buildings, and healthcare facilities are investing in outdoor spaces for their occupants. Why? As school districts and pediatricians recognize the risks associated with sitting in desks all day, and the additional risks from limited access to sunlight and fresh air, designers in the education space have investigated alternative learning spaces that allow students to step away from their desks and into the great outdoors.

Meeting and learning outdoors create a people- and student-first environment. Creating intentional spaces for collaboration and learning has been shown to improve mental, physical, and emotional health. In this course, we will discuss the importance of incorporating outdoor learning environments in educational facilities, the risks of excluding these spaces, and their relationship to physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance.

Learning objectives

• Understand the science of nature related to cognition and wellbeing.
• Discuss the importance of including outdoor learning environments in educational design.
• Learn about the risks associated with excluding outdoor spaces in design.
• Understand how outdoor spaces improve physical health, mental wellbeing, and academic performance.