From Classroom to Field: Rural Teachers' Integration of Science and the Outdoors.
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| Title: | From Classroom to Field: Rural Teachers' Integration of Science and the Outdoors. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Dean, Steph N.1 sndean@clemson.edu, Wenner, Julianne A.1 jwenner@clemson.edu |
| Source: | Rural Educator. Winter2026, Vol. 47 Issue 1, p54-73. 22p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Outdoor education, *Science education, *Community organization, *Student engagement, *Place-based education, *Rural education, *Next Generation Science Standards (Education), *Educational equalization |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | This study explored how rural educators in the US use outdoor environments to enhance science instruction, addressing the educational marginalization of rural students. Using rural cultural wealth as a theoretical framework, we investigated how rural teachers integrate local nature-based resources and students' out-of-school experiences into science learning. We conducted interviews and observations with rural teachers, using reflexive thematic analysis as our qualitative approach. Three key themes emerged that highlight the ways our participants use the outdoor environment to teach science: (a) harness rural community partnerships, (b) engage students through relational teaching, and (c) design learning opportunities that honor students as both people and scientists. These findings illustrate how outdoor science instruction fosters student engagement; provides authentic scientific inquiry aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards; and promotes deep connections between students, their communities, and the natural world. We conclude by calling for a broader adoption of asset-based approaches to rural education and urging science educators to incorporate outdoor settings into their pedagogy as a way to enhance educational equity in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Rural Educator is the property of National Rural Education Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 191901579 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: From Classroom to Field: Rural Teachers' Integration of Science and the Outdoors. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dean%2C+Steph+N%2E%22">Dean, Steph N.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> sndean@clemson.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wenner%2C+Julianne+A%2E%22">Wenner, Julianne A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> jwenner@clemson.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Rural+Educator%22">Rural Educator</searchLink>. Winter2026, Vol. 47 Issue 1, p54-73. 22p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outdoor+education%22">Outdoor education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+education%22">Science education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+organization%22">Community organization</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+engagement%22">Student engagement</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Place-based+education%22">Place-based education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+education%22">Rural education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Next+Generation+Science+Standards+%28Education%29%22">Next Generation Science Standards (Education)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+equalization%22">Educational equalization</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This study explored how rural educators in the US use outdoor environments to enhance science instruction, addressing the educational marginalization of rural students. Using rural cultural wealth as a theoretical framework, we investigated how rural teachers integrate local nature-based resources and students' out-of-school experiences into science learning. We conducted interviews and observations with rural teachers, using reflexive thematic analysis as our qualitative approach. Three key themes emerged that highlight the ways our participants use the outdoor environment to teach science: (a) harness rural community partnerships, (b) engage students through relational teaching, and (c) design learning opportunities that honor students as both people and scientists. These findings illustrate how outdoor science instruction fosters student engagement; provides authentic scientific inquiry aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards; and promotes deep connections between students, their communities, and the natural world. We conclude by calling for a broader adoption of asset-based approaches to rural education and urging science educators to incorporate outdoor settings into their pedagogy as a way to enhance educational equity in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Rural Educator is the property of National Rural Education Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=191901579 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.55533/2643-9662.1539 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 22 StartPage: 54 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Outdoor education Type: general – SubjectFull: Science education Type: general – SubjectFull: Community organization Type: general – SubjectFull: Student engagement Type: general – SubjectFull: Place-based education Type: general – SubjectFull: Rural education Type: general – SubjectFull: Next Generation Science Standards (Education) Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational equalization Type: general – SubjectFull: United States Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: From Classroom to Field: Rural Teachers' Integration of Science and the Outdoors. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Dean, Steph N. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wenner, Julianne A. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Text: Winter2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0273446X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 47 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Rural Educator Type: main |
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