What is a traditional school? Theoretical part.

The model of the traditional school focuses on the formation of a child’s intellect, his ability to solve problems, capacities for attention and effort, as the best way to prepare him/her for life.

Its main theorists have argued that teaching is a clear and perfect choice of models which are offered to students. For this reason, the teacher is considered as a guide and mediator between the models and the child, who needs to emulate and adapt to these guidelines.

Traditional school is a fairly rigorous, not very dynamic system that alienates teachers from their students.

The traditional school focuses on teaching the student according to the teacher’s wishes. The desired result is that the student repeats the knowledge provided.

It is considered a transfer pedagogy when it is entirely up to the teacher who conveys knowledge and teaches the student. Classes are usually explanatory, verbal, and convey a large amount of information.

There is also a need for content selection, standardization and organization. Traditional learning lies in a teacher’s ability to teach. The only tool for assessing learning is the exam, which is summative. It is designed to check that the knowledge provided has been accumulated and memorized, which will depend on the student’s ability to store information.

Although the traditional school is a pedagogical model that has received harsh criticism from other currents of thought, it remains one of the most prevalent in educational institutions.

In addition, it must be acknowledged that it has some positive and valuable aspects of education. Among the advantages of this pedagogical model are:

- contributes to the development of personal effort, will and self-discipline among students.

- it is most efficient to transfer pure data such as historical dates or the laws of physics, mathematics or chemistry.

- it requires a high level of academic preparation and mastery of the teacher, thus encouraging the teacher's creativity and dynamism in involving students in the educational process.

The traditional school is changing little by little. It seeks to look ahead with a view to the future, from a traditional, knowledge-based school to a constantly learning, creating, changing school that responds to the needs of students and society.

 

Such a school is no longer limited to a result-oriented process but works in a complex way, focusing on an overarching process that meets the individual needs of students and society, seeks to ensure the individual progress and achievement of each community member, and the whole organization is encouraged to improve.

However, there are not always enough opportunities to allocate resources and try out innovative teaching methods. Although in many European countries the role of the school head, his/her initiative and professionalism are emphasized as important factors in increasing the efficiency of schools, this is not enough, a change in the role of the teacher is also needed.

Teachers’ motivation, knowledge and skills, and the expression of school leadership are key factors in ensuring better learning outcomes.

The aim is to adapt the educational model to the essential needs of a growing child, to combine teaching/learning and self-expression, the knowledge of subjects and practical activities, to help reveal the uniqueness, creativity and talents of everyone.

Learning Outdoor 

Field pedagogy includes teaching according to a general education program outside the school building. It is not just a game on the field. It is a careful, well-thought-out lesson activity, usually based on exploration, setting out learning outcomes in the field (MacQuarrie, 2018).

Each school should have an 'outdoor classroom' that can be used for education. Outdoor classes can come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and there are many tools available to students and can be used by teachers for a variety of purposes. Field learning can take place anywhere for learning outside the school building. Creative teachers can greatly improve students’ learning - both process skills as well as content concepts. 

(Spray et al., 2015; Tranter & Malone 2004; van  DijkWesselius et al., 2020).

Implementing outdoor and open activities in a traditional school

Outdoor activities, outdoor games develop free and unfettered creativity, imagination, activeness, especially environmental cognition, which has a positive effect on the nervous system.

Performing tasks outdoors is convenient because all the tools can be found right here:  pebbles, pine cones, chestnuts, sand and other natural materials.

Cognitive competence is developed (critical thinking, information gathering,   measurement, grouping, calculation, comparison through observation, testing, etc.), others competencies are also developed: social (communication and cooperation, teamwork), communication  (ability to understand others, express oneself, enrichment of vocabulary), health care (physical activity, ability to concentrate, friendly relationship with others, good emotional well-being), artistic (creative ideas), initiative, digital literacy.

Students of different ages, abilities, experiences get to know each other, make friends, which contributes to a more favourable school microclimate.

As it is necessary to create a product, students see very clearly how they are able to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice. Students link different subjects and learn from each other.

Students have less work to do with homework.