Engaging Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Environmental Education, Earthwalk Approach
Manea, Delia; Wallinsalo, Annina (2020)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202002031951
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202002031951
Tiivistelmä
Manea Delia, Wallinsalo Annina
Engaging Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Environmental Education, Earthwalk Approach
35 pages, 3 appendices
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Social Services
Degree Programme in Social Services
The purpose of the thesis was to provide environmental and earth education via earthwalk lessons to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As an outcome the lessons allowed us to design a leaflet about this topic for professionals. This was a project-based thesis with elements of product-based thesis as well.
The thesis project was conducted for the work-life partner: Environmental Education Youth Work Unit of Helsinki, which is part of Helsinki’s Youth Services. The work-life partner expressed their interest in this subject as they organize environmental and adventure education services for youth and children. Background information, feedback, and suggestions were collected while meeting with the staff of the Environmental Education Youth Work Unit. Based on the information, which was received from them, the project’s developmental needs could be identified, and they serve as the key focus point for writing the leaflet. The results of this thesis, according to feedback from the school and work-life partner, were very positive. Based on the teachers and students’ comments and observations, we could determine which exercises where more favoured than others. This was very beneficial for us to know when creating the leaflet, so we were able to point out what exercises worked better than others.
In addition, the thesis concentrates on how environmental education can improve the social and physical wellbeing of a person with ASD and how they can benefit from environmental education, while enjoying different kind of exercises outdoors and what the instructors should take into consideration before planning specific lessons for groups with special abilities. The aim of the project was to plan and implement engaging earthwalk lessons to help the project’s target group to cope with their autistic abilities.
Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, environmental education, environmental sensitivity, sensory awareness, earth education, earthwalks, participatory method
Engaging Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Environmental Education, Earthwalk Approach
35 pages, 3 appendices
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Social Services
Degree Programme in Social Services
The purpose of the thesis was to provide environmental and earth education via earthwalk lessons to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As an outcome the lessons allowed us to design a leaflet about this topic for professionals. This was a project-based thesis with elements of product-based thesis as well.
The thesis project was conducted for the work-life partner: Environmental Education Youth Work Unit of Helsinki, which is part of Helsinki’s Youth Services. The work-life partner expressed their interest in this subject as they organize environmental and adventure education services for youth and children. Background information, feedback, and suggestions were collected while meeting with the staff of the Environmental Education Youth Work Unit. Based on the information, which was received from them, the project’s developmental needs could be identified, and they serve as the key focus point for writing the leaflet. The results of this thesis, according to feedback from the school and work-life partner, were very positive. Based on the teachers and students’ comments and observations, we could determine which exercises where more favoured than others. This was very beneficial for us to know when creating the leaflet, so we were able to point out what exercises worked better than others.
In addition, the thesis concentrates on how environmental education can improve the social and physical wellbeing of a person with ASD and how they can benefit from environmental education, while enjoying different kind of exercises outdoors and what the instructors should take into consideration before planning specific lessons for groups with special abilities. The aim of the project was to plan and implement engaging earthwalk lessons to help the project’s target group to cope with their autistic abilities.
Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, environmental education, environmental sensitivity, sensory awareness, earth education, earthwalks, participatory method