Instrumentation

After working in the industry for many years, ten of which as a further education teacher I have been judged as a practitioner against criteria and the effectiveness of my programmes. Like many occupations, education is target driven wanting retention, attendance and achievement to be measured and documented. Cullingford (1999) indicates the impacts of such targets that are driven by external influences and not always improving effectiveness.

However, most of my proudest moments in those ten years were the development of individuals, their self belief, confidence and maturity. These attributes are hard to measure and something that the authorities or managers within the education sector were not truly interested in.

There is a belief that proof of our worth in the outdoor industry needs to be credible and documented. Hattie et al (1997) promotes the need for such evidence. Davidson (2009) supports the need for additional qualitative research, as new and substantial evidence on lifelong learning is emerging.

I understand the need and argument in measuring such outcomes. Neill (2003) Life Effectiveness Questionnaire is aimed at establishing, outcomes and benefits and could prove useful to credit both the outdoor industry and participants. However, being able to demonstrate and promote such credible research may even have a damaging effect on adventure education. This could cause managers and facilitators to follow stringent, costly and lengthy processes to gain outcomes to be measured.

Attarian (2002) states there is greater accountability being put on providers. In the current economic climate outdoor establishments are being squeezed and pressured to show their worth. I think back to my teaching days and stand firm on the immeasurable benefits of outdoor education.

If we have to demonstrate such worth, then maybe the bureaucrats and purse string holders need to visit and through direct observation see how and why adventure education is so unique and valuable.

References

Attarian, A (2002).  Trends in outdoor adventure education: North Carolina State University.

Cullingford, C (1999). An Inspector calls: Routledge.

Davidson, L (2009). Qualitative Research and Making Meaning of Adventure: a Case Study of Boys' Experiences of Outdoor Education at School: University of Wellington.

Hattie, J., Marsh, H. W., Neill, J. T., & Richards, G. E. (1997. Adventure education and Outward Bound: Out-of-class experiences that make a lasting difference. Review of Educational Research

Neill, J. T., Marsh, H. W., & Richards, G. E. (2003). The Life Effectiveness Questionnaire: Development and psychometrics. Sydney: University of Western Sydney.