Out-of-school learning

Educational concept

Out-of-school learning is an educational concept first proposed by Lauren Resnick in her 1987 AERA presidential address,[1][2] which consists of curricular and non-curricular learning experiences for pupils and students outside the school environment.

## Goals[edit]

The point of out-of-school learning is to overcome learning disabilities, development of talents, strengthen communities and increase interest in education by creating extra learning opportunities in the real world. In a study[3] performed by the UCLA National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) it was proven that out-of-school learning increases the interest in education and school itself.

## Implementation[edit]

Out-of-school learning is typically not coordinated by the school itself. Out-of-school experiences are organized with community partners such as museums, sport facilities, charity initiatives, and more. Out-of-school experiences can range from service learning to summer school and expeditions or more commonly occur in day to day experiences at after-school with creative ventures such as arts courses and even sports. Some other examples of out-of-school learning are:

* homework and homework clubs
* study clubs – extending curriculum
* mentoring – by other pupils and by adults, including parents
* learning about learning
* community service and citizenship
* residential activities – study weeks or weekends

## Results[edit]

It has been found in research[4] by the Wallace Foundation that out-of-school learning can be a great opportunity to discover and develop talents. Especially if a professional organization develops a learning environment that guides groups of pupils/students in their co-operation in creating a professional and publicly visible product, presentation or performance. Companies, cultural institutions and non governmental organizations can offer valuable out-of-school learning experiences.

Organizations will see results accordingly to the quality of the experience, whether they aim to promote active and healthy lifestyles, increase community involvement and visitors/members, to an interest in a company's corporate responsibility projects and employment opportunities.

## Projects[edit]

In the United Kingdom alone, several local and state bodies run out-of-school learning projects, with additional funding[5] from the National Lottery (£9.1m in 2000). Some major examples of out-of-school learning projects are:

* Parentzone, an out of school learning initiative from the Scottish government
* LA's Best, an out of school learning initiative from Tom Bradley mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1973 to 1993
* Sarahs'wereld and De Wenswijk, out of school learning initiatives from the Wensenwerk Foundation sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the Netherlands.

## See also[edit]

* Education portal

* Constructivism
* Cooperative education

## References[edit]

1. ^ L. Resnick (1987), The 1987 Presidential Address: Learning in School and out
2. ^ L. Resnick (1987), Education and Learning to Think. National Academy Press. ISBN 0-309-03785-9
3. ^ UCLA CRESST, The Long-Term Effects of After-School Programming on Educational Adjustment and Juvenile Crime:A Study of the LA’s BEST After-School Program
4. ^ The Wallace Foundation
5. ^ BBC News, Cash boost for out-of-school learning

## External links[edit]

* Nonprofit Research Collection on Learning After School Published on IssueLab