Outdoor Thinking Toolkit
Discover practical strategies for using outdoor spaces to strengthen students’ emotional awareness, resilience, collaboration, and critical and creative thinking. Activities are adaptable across year levels and require minimal equipment.
Real-World Problem-Solving Frameworks
Explore structured approaches that help students analyse challenges, generate ideas, test solutions, and reflect, all grounded in authentic outdoor contexts where thinking becomes visible.
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Assessing Personal, Social, and Cognitive Growth
Learn practical methods for capturing student development outdoors, from teamwork and conflict resolution to reasoning, empathy, and ideation—using simple, scalable assessment tools.
About the Course
Outdoor Learning in Personal, Social, Critical, and Creative Thinking invites educators to use natural and built environments as powerful spaces for developing students’ self-awareness, resilience, collaboration, and higher-order thinking. Drawing on curriculum, this module demonstrates how outdoor contexts enrich students’ emotional regulation, empathy, and interpersonal skills while providing authentic opportunities for critical analysis, creative ideation, and problem-solving. Through practical strategies and adaptable activities, educators will learn to design learning experiences that strengthen students’ capacity to think deeply, work constructively with others, and navigate challenges with confidence and adaptability.
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Meet Your Instructor
Luke Parker Luke Parker is an award-winning educator, researcher, and leader specializing in outdoor learning and artificial intelligence in education. With a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas, Luke has explored the role of outdoor learning in U.S. education, including the first nationwide study of its implementation and impact. Luke's professional journey began in Australian schools, where he combined his expertise in outdoor education and teaching. As an Education Officer for Outdoors Victoria since 2017, Luke spearheaded the development of over 30 teacher toolkits, equipping educators with strategies to integrate outdoor learning across curricula. His work has been instrumental in showcasing how outdoor environments can enrich learning in diverse subjects, from health and physical education to humanities and technologies.
Module Highlights
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1
Introduction to Personal, Social, Critical, and Creative Thinking in the Outdoors
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(Included in full purchase)
Module Fourteen - Outdoor Learning and Personal, Social, Critical, and Creative Thinking
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(Included in full purchase)
Introductory Survey
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(Included in full purchase)
Embracing Outdoor Learning in Personal, Social, Critical, and Creative Thinking Education
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(Included in full purchase)
Teacher Toolkits
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(Included in full purchase)
Assessing Personal, Social, Critical, and Creative Thinking
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(Included in full purchase)
Exploring Your Local Environment
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(Included in full purchase)
Outdoor Activity Pitch: “Mapping the Space”
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(Included in full purchase)
Discussion Board Collaboration
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(Included in full purchase)
Capability Lens Switch
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(Included in full purchase)
Module Comprehension Check (Pre and Post)
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(Included in full purchase)
Final Quiz to Pass Module
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(Included in full purchase)
Outdoors Victoria Professional Development Modules
Throughout 2024 and 2025, Outdoors Victoria will release 15 professional development modules designed to empower educators with practical tools and strategies to integrate outdoor learning across the curriculum. These modules are updated annually to ensure relevance and alignment with the evolving needs of school teachers. Module Highlights: Introduction to Outdoor Learning Explore the principles, benefits, and applications of outdoor learning across diverse educational settings. Geography and Outdoor Learning Learn strategies for teaching geographical skills, location identification, and data collection through outdoor experiences. Science and Outdoor Learning Enhance scientific understanding through outdoor experiments, observations, and field-based activities. Mathematics and Outdoor Learning Connect mathematical concepts to real-world applications using outdoor activities. English and Outdoor Learning Foster language skills with nature journaling, environmental debates, and outdoor storytelling. History and Outdoor Learning Engage with historical narratives and contexts by utilizing outdoor environments as interactive learning spaces. Health and Physical Education (Parts 1 & 2) Promote physical activity and well-being through outdoor games, sports, and risk-taking in safe settings. The Arts and Outdoor Learning Inspire creativity through outdoor art, music, dance, and drama projects. Languages and Outdoor Learning Support language acquisition with immersive, context-based activities in outdoor settings. Technologies and Outdoor Learning Leverage technology, such as geocaching and augmented reality, to enrich outdoor learning experiences. Music Education and Outdoor Learning Use natural soundscapes and outdoor musical activities to ignite creativity and expression. Humanities and Outdoor Learning Explore civics, economics, and business concepts through engaging outdoor projects. Intercultural and Ethical Capabilities Foster cultural understanding and ethical reasoning with outdoor activities that highlight diverse perspectives. Personal, Social, Critical, and Creative Thinking Build resilience, empathy, and problem-solving skills through collaborative outdoor challenges. Cross-Curriculum Priorities Integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures into outdoor learning programs. These modules are designed to enhance student engagement, deepen learning, and provide educators with innovative approaches to teaching. Stay tuned for the release of each module and join the journey to transform your teaching practices through outdoor learning.
Acknowledgment
We sincerely thank the Department of Education and the Strategic Partnerships Program (SPP) for their generous support in making this program possible. Their commitment to professional development and inclusive education has allowed us to create and deliver these modules, equipping educators with the tools to foster meaningful outdoor learning experiences. This initiative would not have been possible without the backing of the Department and the SPP, and we are proud to collaborate in empowering teachers to make a lasting impact in their classrooms.
Ready to Transform Outdoor Learning in Personal, Social, Critical, and Creative Thinking Learning?
Join this module to explore how outdoor spaces can enrich students’ personal and social development, strengthen collaborative and critical thinking skills, and provide authentic contexts for creativity, reflection, and problem-solving.