Beyond the walls: Investigating outdoor learning experiences of social studies teacher candidates in Türkiye

Abstract

This research aims to clarify the transformative effects of outdoor education on prospective teachers' learning and teaching processes by focusing on the pedagogical foundations of the outdoor learning experience. Phenomenology, a qualitative research design, was used to examine the participants' experiences. According to the research results, outdoor education improves participants' life-based experiential learning and reflective social and emotional skills. These experiences increased teacher candidates' motivation and desire to use outdoor activities professionally. These findings underscore the need to integrate outdoor education into teacher education programs, providing rich learning and teaching experiences.