Bringing learning to life: nine tips for teaching in outdoor places and spaces

Blog post. David A. G. Clarke reflects on his experience of teaching in outdoor spaces and provides valuable tips on how to take higher education outside the classroom.

There is growing awareness of the educational, community-building, sustainability and physical and mental health benefits of stepping outside the classroom, lab or lecture hall when teaching. And teaching across the University of Edinburgh already takes place in a range of settings from campus grounds, to Holyrood Park, the Royal Mile, the Writers’ Museum and further afield. With the focus now on a return to in-person teaching, I want to share tips and resources that we developed prior to, and during, the pandemic to inspire lecturers to take learning outdoors across the city of Edinburgh and beyond.