Using Outdoor Adventure Education to Develop Students' Groupwork Skills: A Quantitative Exploration of Reaction and Learning. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cooley, Sam J.; Burns, Victoria E.; Cumming, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Journal of experiential education. Volume 39:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 329
• Page End: 354
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: groupwork skills -- the Kirkpatrick model -- adventure programming -- teamwork -- life skills -- higher education; Education -- Periodicals; Experience -- Periodicals; Education -- Experimental methods -- Periodicals; Learning, Psychology of -- Periodicals; 370.1505
• DOI: 10.1177/1053825916668899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-009X

Abstract

This study investigates the initial development of groupwork skills through outdoor adventure education (OAE) and the factors that predict the extent of this development, using the first two levels of Kirkpatrick's model of training evaluation. University students ( N = 238) completed questionnaires measuring their initial reactions to OAE (Level 1 of the Kirkpatrick model) and learning from pre- to post-course (Level 2). There were high levels of enjoyment and satisfaction with OAE, and significant self-reported improvements in the use of groupwork skills, attitudes toward groupwork, and groupwork self-efficacy. Learning and intention to transfer learning to the university setting were both positively predicted by students' perceived use of groupwork skills before OAE, course satisfaction, enjoyment, groupwork self-efficacy, and attitude toward groupwork. These findings demonstrate that OAE increases students' use of interpersonal groupwork skills, and that this is predicted by positive beliefs at baseline and favorable reactions to the learning experience.