Winter Outdoor & Alternative Environment Physical Education

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
SPSC 1319
Descriptive
Winter Outdoor & Alternative Environment Physical Education
Department
Sport Science
Faculty
Science and Technology
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
25
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours
Seminar: 4 hours/semester
and
Field Experience: 40 hours/semester 
and
Other (Gym): 16 hours/semester
Method(s) of instruction
Seminar
Field Experience
Other
Learning activities

In this course, students engage in a variety of learning activities such as experiential learning, field trips, practical applications, inquiry-based, place-based, field observation, and peer-led teaching. 

Course description
In this course, students learn how to use experiential education methods to incorporate K-12 curricular requirements into alternative winter learning environments. Topics include risk assessment and management, organization and planning, environmental ethics, and pedagogical strategies for outdoor physical education environments. Participation in, and planning of, aquatic and land activities is a course requirement. The course is open to students of all physical abilities. Field trips will be required. These field trips may take place outside of scheduled class hours and include an overnight trip. This course acknowledges that Outdoor Experiential Education is congruent with First Nations Epistemology.
Course content
  • Outdoor and alternative environment settings
    • aquatic settings
    • land-based settings
    • seasonal considerations
    • school-based alternatives
  • Risk management
  • Physical literacy and dynamic system considerations in alternative environments
    • individual dimensions: affective, cognitive, and psychomotor
    • task and complexity structure
    • environmental considerations
  • Lesson and unit planning for outdoor and alternative environment settings
    • safety considerations
    • transportation planning
    • learning outcomes
    • equipment needs
    • planned activities
    • BC Ministry of Education’s core competencies and other curricular areas
    • assessment and evaluation strategies
    • budgeting
  • Instructional strategies
    • alternative teaching approaches
    • incorporation of cooperative, inquiry, personal and social responsibility models of instruction
    • class management strategies
    • developmentally appropriate technical progressions
    • principles of effective curriculum planning for classes according to seasonal activities
  • Practical topic selection
    • land-based examples
      • skiing
      • skating
      • indoor rock climbing
      • winter camping
      • snowshoeing
      • velodrome cycling
      • snow caving
      • caving
    • water-based examples
      • survival techniques
      • SCUBA diving
    • culturally relevant activities
      • historical significance
      • relationship to “place”
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • design an outdoor activity lesson including the following components: risk management and safety considerations, learning outcomes, equipment needs, planned activities, and assessment and evaluation considerations;
  • analyze and observe outdoor or alternative environment plan/organization with regard to risk management and safety considerations, learning outcomes, equipment needs, planned activities, assessment and evaluation options, and participant affective domains;
  • apply satisfactory supervisory skills during outdoor and alternative environment activities;
  • utilize teaching models related to personal and social responsibility, cooperative learning, and inquiry-based learning;
  • identify relevant outdoor and alternative environment locations and organizational resources available for the relevant age group of students;
  • link outcomes to BC Ministry of Education’s core competencies and other curricular areas;
  • identify appropriate environmental concerns and apply low environmental impact strategies through an “ethics of care”;
  • identify the overlaps between First Nation Epistemology and Outdoor Experiential Education methodology and philosophy.
Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:

Participation                           10-20%

Practice Teaching                    10-30%

Risk Management Quiz            10-30%

Outdoor Activity Proposal         20-40%

Total                                        100%

Note: Students who do not attend a minimum of 80% of scheduled course activities will receive a UN grade.

Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Depending on the activity involved, students may incur a cost associated with transportation and/or equipment requirements for the course.

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None