National survey update shows an increase in udeskole (outdoor learning) in Denmark schoolsA nationwide telephone survey of school leaders in Denmark was conducted in the Spring of 2014 to obtain information about the current status and prevalence of udeskole in the Danish school system as compared to 2007. “Udeskole” is the term used in Denmark to refer to regular educational activities conducted outside the classroom on school grounds or in the nearby environment. These same activities are referred to in Norway as “uteskole.”
For this study, attempts were made to contact all 1911 public, private and independent schools in Denmark by phone. The research team was not able to reach 193 (10.1%) of them. Head teachers at all of the other schools completed a structured quantitative questionnaire administered over the phone by research assistants. Questions on the survey addressed whether or not the school had one or more classes currently practicing udeskole, the number and different levels of classes practicing udeskole, how often udeskole is practiced in these classes, and the length of time the head teachers had worked with udeskole at the school.
Results indicated that at least 17.9% of all public schools and 19.4% of all independent and private schools practiced udeskole. This was an increase since 2007 when approximately 14% of public and private/independent schools were practicing udeskole on a weekly or biweekly basis.
While this study indicated that there were no significant differences in the use of udeskole between small, medium, and large schools, there were differences with the different class levels, with the most frequent use occurring at the primary and lower secondary levels. This pattern of decreasing udeskole as children get older is consistent with practices in some other countries, including New Zealand, England, Scotland, and Norway.
This study was conducted just as school reform efforts were to be implemented in Denmark. The researchers thus conclude that it is unlikely that the reform would have influenced the provision of udeskole at the time of the survey and that this study might serve as a baseline for the effect of the reform on the provision of outdoor learning. A related concern expressed by the researchers is that, while the new school act appears to promote outdoor learning, teachers who are not familiar with this practice may lack the necessary competence to practice it. They therefore recommend that initial teacher training should include instruction on the use of green space and the nearby environment in their educational programs.
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