Education outside the classroom increases children's reading performance: Results from a one-year quasi-experimental study

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  • Camilla Roed Otte
  • Mads Bølling
  • Matt P Stevenson
  • Niels Ejbye-Ernst
  • Nielsen, Glen
  • Peter Bentsen

The use of education outside the classroom (EOtC) in schools is increasing; however, there are currently few studies assessing the longer-term impacts on academic achievement. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between one school-year of regular (more than 2.0 h a week) participation in EOtC and Danish primary school children's reading performance. We conducted a quasi-experimental study involving 20 EOtC intervention group classes and 10 comparison group parallel classes (Grades 3–6). Children were tested pre- and post-intervention in reading performance. We found that exposure to EOtC had a small positive impact on test scores. The implication that regular EOtC is positively associated with reading performance is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Educational Research
Volume94
Pages (from-to)42-51
Number of pages10
ISSN0883-0355
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Research areas

  • Natural environment, Outdoor learning, Primary school, Reading

ID: 216025102