The project called “The Adventures of Out-of-Classroom Learning” has originated within the Erasmus+ Program, Key activities of two strategic partnerships for schools and preschool institutions, envisaged to last for 36 months – from September 1st 2019 to August 31st 2022. The project has been submitted by the preschool institution “Maštolend’’ from Novi Sad, together with elementary school “Dobje” from Dobje pri Planiniin the Republic of Slovenia, the “Maslačak” kindergarten from Pulain the Republic of Croatia, Preschool Institution “Včielka” from Bački Petrovac, Republic of Serbia and the Gallery of Matica srpska from Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia, who are all strategic partners in the development of an innovative model of teaching children. The exchange of experiences in the outdoor-based concept of work that has been implemented has shown a vast variety of activities and innovative ideas, leading to the formation of strategic partnership aimed at knowledge networking and the creation of high-quality methods for the work with children. The goal of the project is to stimulate knowledge and skills in the work with children of preschool and lower school age, through an innovative approach which emphasizes play and outdoor learning, in natural environment, in cultural, scientific, sports and other authentic institutions. This model anticipates local and natural environments as resources for experiential education that stimulates critical and functional thinking in children. The idea of outdoor-based models of working with children is quite recent in our society and therefore there are no handbooks or textbooks which could help educators, teachers and pedagogues to master their professional competencies towards practicing outdoor-based programs. This is why the e-handbook for educators, teachers, various professional associates, parents and representatives of local communities is the kind of literature which is to be helpful in the introduction of these teaching methods. It contains a set of educational materials which include the basic information on outdoor-based teaching approach, remarks on teaching methods and guidelines, as well as examples of successful activities and instructions for the use of digital technologies in early age groups. The handbook recommends spending time in natural environments, playing with various natural materials and pursuing research projects in the local and social communities. Children’s programs are also supported by ideas for implementing digital toys, the use of which makes sense when they are used during play and activities in nature and cultural and sports centers. This approach is innovative because in the so far dominant preschool education, which did not sufficiently elaborate the implementation of digital technologies, we are offering an introduction of a proven model for their application through the use of digital toys such as microscope, video and photo camera, coding toys, orientation in nature and so on. The e-handbook was born during the program, through the exchange of experiences and knowledge, to serve the needs of educators, teachers, professional associates, parents and representatives of local communities. The results of the project activities and the contents of the handbook were shown at an international conference, through presentations of studies which evolved in the course of the project, presentations of the objectives, activities as well as of teaching materials. The e-handbook subject matter includes: theoretical concepts, materials containing teaching methods which aid planning, organization and creation of opportunities for learning in living environments, scenarios aiding family inclusion, partner organization and experts from the local community, examples of activities with children, as well as examples of the use of Information and Communications Technologies. Long term effects of this project should include further networking of professionals throughout Europe, exchange of experiences, co-operation on joint projects and development of high quality preschool curricula inspired by modern models of work with children.
Our desire was to create a handbook for preschool and school teachers, expert associates, museum educators and other representatives of local communities, which provides innovative ways of working with children, a methodological framework and ideas for using nature and the local environment as a setting where both children and adults would be able to learn. The specific objectives of the program were pertaining to the creation of a program which would include methods and technologies of work based on play, children's exploration activities and the application of digital technologies (digital toys) in kindergarten and school yards, urban areas, nature (forest, field, beach, park ...), cultural and art institutions, schools located in forests… We particularly insisted on implementing the project transnationally due to the diversity of natural and cultural contexts which impact the curricula of the partner organizations where the authors are employed, allowing them to use innovative ideas and create a comprehensive model applicable throughout the region and beyond. With this program, our intention was to include the use of digital technologies for preschool children and those in lower elementary school grades.
Contemporary paradigms in the 21st century education propose educational models which perceive the local environment and the natural surroundings as resources for children's learning. In recent years, this idea has been spreading across the region, however, there are no handbooks and other accompanying literature which would assist preschool and school teachers and educators to improve their professional competences. There is an insufficient number of practical examples and literature addressing methodological and pedagogical issues for a program based on outdoor pedagogy to be implemented. Moreover, one cannot imagine modern education without ICT competences, and existing programs of work with children have not offered methods for working with early learners. A need has emerged to enhance and improve the teachers’ competences pertaining to modern work models in the field of outdoor and ICT. Over a period of 34 months, we have been developing innovative methods of working with children by placing them in situations where they would be able to learn in the local community, nature, cultural, sports and educational institutions, while using digital toys along the way.