An autoethnographic exploration of family-based emergent nature learning
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Authors
Corcoran, Rita Marie
Issue Date
2017-04-04
Type
Language
Subject
autoethnography , education , emergent , environment , family-based , nature
Alternative Title
Abstract
Through autoethonography, I explored emergent nature learning in a family context. I facilitated and journaled about eighty-five family-based nature experiences with my own family, ten of which included other families. I created the term enthusiastic nature learning (ENL) as an indication of whether my children both enjoyed the nature experiences and either (1) took notice of the non-human life surrounding them, (2) made biological observations, (3) engaged in discussions regarding the natural surroundings, (4) used their natural surroundings in play, (5) or expressed interest in returning to the natural location. Variability among the three broad factors of Leadership, Participants and Place affected how ENL emerged. In addition, the explicit design of the experiences, called Active Design, the Relationships among participants, and the Modality of learning of each participant also affected the emergence of ENL.