Teaching maths outside the classroom: does it make a difference?

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Camilla Roed Otte
  • Mads Bølling
  • Peter Elsborg
  • Nielsen, Glen
  • Peter Bentsen

Background: An emerging field of research indicates that the use of learning environments other than the classroom can improve pupils’ academic achievement in several subjects, including their skills in mathematics.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Education Outside the Classroom (EOtC) and pupils’ skills in mathematics.

Methods: This explorative, quasi-experimental study involved schoolchildren (aged 9–13 years) from 15 Danish public schools who participated in EOtC over the course of a school year. The mathematical skills of pupils from 23 EOtC maths intervention classes (n=421) and 12 EOtC non-maths comparison classes (n=198) were measured at the start and end of the 2014–2015 school year.

Results: Both groups showed improved maths skills; however, we found no significant difference between the EOtC maths and the comparison groups.

Conclusion: The results indicate that, in this explorative study, moving maths teaching outside the classroom neither harmed nor improved pupils’ mathematical skills. These results and implications for research are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEducational Research
Volume61
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)38-52
Number of pages15
ISSN0013-1881
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Research areas

  • Assessment, Learning, Mathematics, Outdoor education, Schoolchildren, Teaching

ID: 213041742