Movement, outdoor learning and well-being at school

The new national core curriculum for primary education in Finland, which came into effect in 2016, emphasizes the use of diverse learning environments. There is a lack of knowledge in Finland regarding the extent to which teaching in primary schools takes place outside the school building and the significance of the use of outdoor learning environments on students' learning, physical activity, health and well-being and nature connectedness, as well as  what opportunities and challenges teachers experience in relation to this. 

The sub-areas and objectives of the LärMiljö study

The LärMiljö study consists of a) a survey of the use of learning environments outside the school building, where the research material is used to clarify to what extent different learning environments are used in the Swedish-language primary schools  and which factors (including perceived benefits and obstacles, the experience of self-determination and support) are related to this; and b) the student study, where questionnaire material, results from academic tests and  measurements with accelerometers are used to examine students’ physical activity, health and well-being, school performance and nature connectedness, as well as how the class teacher's use of different learning environments and other factors are related to these. Before the two sub-studies, a pilot study was carried out in the autumn of 2021, aimed at testing the feasibility and suitability of the data collection methods planned for the studies.

Data and methods

Data collection for the study began in late 2021 with a national survey in Swedish-language primary schools among teachers and principals, and in the spring of 2022 in grades 3-6 of Swedish-language primary schools among students, guardians and class teachers. The data collection continued during the school year 2022–2023. Data was collected with electronic web surveys and  students’ physical activity was measured with accelerometers over a week during which a diary was also kept. Academic tests were conducted during lesson time.