Listen "Outdoor learning for assessment and social-emotional learning"
Episode Synopsis
Prepositions matter in this episode, specifically that three-letter word ‘for.’ What is outdoor learning ‘for’ assessment? How can we facilitate outdoor learning ‘for’ social-emotional learning (SEL)? Teacher, writer, podcaster, and regular sit-spot practitioner Lauren MacLean of Teach Outdoors joined us to talk assessment and SEL in the context of learning outdoors. We also got into the weeds regarding British Columbia’s competency-based assessment framework as well as documenting learners’ progress on a continuum.
Guest: Lauren MacLean
From the Teach Outdoors website
“I was born and raised in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada by my two amazing parents. My brother, sister, and I grew up playing in the ditches and wetlands in the summer and exploring the snowy mountains in the winter.
I now live in Port Moody, BC. It’s still on the West Coast of Canada, just a bit further up the Burrard Inlet. My family lives at the top of Heritage Mountain where we enjoy taking our two young toddlers and energetic dog on forest hikes.
I am very grateful to be living and learning on these lands which lie on the traditional, unceded territory of the Coast Salish people since time immemorial.”
Mentioned in episode:
Teach Outdoors
Teach Outdoors Podcast
CASEL
Wild Learning (Rachel Tidd)
Related resources:
Sitting with Nature: An Educator’s Guide to Sit Spots
Me and My Sit Spot
Me and My Sit Spot for Early Learners
Embracing Risky Play at School
Guest: Lauren MacLean
From the Teach Outdoors website
“I was born and raised in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada by my two amazing parents. My brother, sister, and I grew up playing in the ditches and wetlands in the summer and exploring the snowy mountains in the winter.
I now live in Port Moody, BC. It’s still on the West Coast of Canada, just a bit further up the Burrard Inlet. My family lives at the top of Heritage Mountain where we enjoy taking our two young toddlers and energetic dog on forest hikes.
I am very grateful to be living and learning on these lands which lie on the traditional, unceded territory of the Coast Salish people since time immemorial.”
Mentioned in episode:
Teach Outdoors
Teach Outdoors Podcast
CASEL
Wild Learning (Rachel Tidd)
Related resources:
Sitting with Nature: An Educator’s Guide to Sit Spots
Me and My Sit Spot
Me and My Sit Spot for Early Learners
Embracing Risky Play at School
More episodes of the podcast Earthy Chats Podcast
Indigenous wellness and language learning
24/07/2025
Learning through a watershed lens
13/12/2024
Episode 18: From eco-anxiety to eco-action
06/09/2023
Episode 17: Soil study and inquiry
05/12/2022
Episode 15: Forging nature-based connections
27/07/2022
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.