Adventure Education and SelfEsteem

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Adventure Education and Self-Esteem
Developing Self-Esteem Through Adventure
Scott Clough ESS 777 December 7, 2007
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Introduction

• Adventure Education in the Physical Education
  Curriculum
• Current attitudes towards physical education
• Adventure Education is growing in our school
  curriculums

• Importance of Self-Esteem
• Relationship of Adventure Education and
  Self-Esteem

3
Justification

• Important questions to ask
• What are the consequences of having a low
  self-esteem?
• Is it the responsibility of schools to improve
  student self-esteem?
• Does participation in Adventure Education affect
  self-esteem?
• If so, how can we maximize these benefits?
• If not, should we continue to put money into
  these programs?

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Important Definitions

• Adventure Education - a group being put in a
  unique or novel setting, creating a sense of
  disequalibrium. Teaching the group in these
  situations about responsibility and decision
  making through movement. Students are held
  responsible for the decisions and outcomes of
  that group.
• Includes 7 stages of development
• Acquaintance Activities 5. Trust Activities
• Deinhibitizers 6. Low Rope Elements
• Communication Activities 7. High Rope Elements
• Problem-Solving Activities

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Important Definitions

• Outdoor Education - knowledge and skills
  associated with traveling through the natural
  environment without motorized transport. In
  addition, activities are usually non-competitive
  in nature. Can be on the face of a rock, under
  or over water, or through the air.

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Important Definitions

• Self-Esteem refers to general feelings of
  self-worth and self-value.
• Self-Efficacy is belief in ones capacity to
  succeed at tasks.
• Self-Confidence refers to belief in ones
  personal worth and likelihood of succeeding.
• Self-Concept is the nature and organization of
  beliefs about ones self.

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Adventure Education and Self-Esteem

• Enhancing self-esteem is currently considered a
  common of Adventure Education.
• Classification of affective objectives associated
  with Adventure
• Finding Out about Self Evaluation of
  Self Development of Self
• Self Awareness Self Confidence Self
  Development
• Self Discovery Self Assurance Personal
  Development
• Self Knowledge SELF ESTEEM Character Training
• Self Confrontation Self Respect Character
  Building
• Self Worth Character Development Self
  Realization
• Self Actualization
• Self Discipline
• Self Help
• Self Expression

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Research and Results

• Trzesniewski, K., et al. (2006) found that
  adolescents with low self esteem grew up to have
  more
• Mental health problems during adulthood
  depression, anxiety and tobacco dependence.
• Physical health problems during adulthood poor
  cardio respiratory health, high waist-to-hip
  ratios, and poor self-perceived health.
• More criminal convictions
• Fewer economic prospects

Thus, low self-esteem during adolescence predicts
negative real-world consequences.
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Research and Results

• Kolb, D. (1988) studied the self-esteem effects
  of freshman students who participated in a
  10-week adventure-based education program. The
  results of this study indicate
• Males and females had an overall statistical
  improvement in self-esteem scores following
  participation in the program.
• Students also showed improvements in perception
  of own physical self and popularity

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Research and Results

• Wick, D., Wick, J., Peterson, N. (1997)
  research studied fifth grade student who
  participated in a six-week adventure program
  using Alderian Theory. The results indicated
• Overall self-esteem scores significantly improved
  following the program.
• Student also improved in each of the following
  subscale scores behavior, intellectual and
  school status, physical appearance, popularity,
  and anxiety.
• Students began to mediate their own problems,
  classroom behavior improved, and students felt
  they had more friends than before the program.

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Research and Results

• Carson, D., Others, A. (1993) analyzed the
  effects of an adventure education experience on
  sixth grade students self-esteem and behavior.
  The results of the study show
• Through the experience, students established a
  greater rapport and trust with teachers.
• Students overall self-esteem increased when
  taking the post-experience Culture-Free
  Self-Esteem Inventory.
• Teacher ratings of student behavior drastically
  improved in the classroom.

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Advantages

• Research indicates high self-esteem can predict
  success rates in adulthood.
• Participation in Adventure Education experiences
  can increase individual self-esteem.
• Both males and females report increases in
  self-esteem through participation in adventure
  programs.
• Adventure Education can increase the self-esteem
  of elementary, middle, and high school students.
• Statistical evidence exists to support the use of
  Adventure Education in schools.

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Disadvantages

• Adventure Education is not cheap and not all
  schools have the resources to fund such programs.
• Adventure Education is not well understood by all
  educators and can have negative effects if
  implemented incorrectly.
• Many research studies regarding Adventure
  Education and self-esteem use observable data
  collection techniques rather than statistical
  evidence.

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Recommendations

• Implement Adventure Education programs at the
  elementary, middle, and high school level.
• Teachers must affectively plan for specific
  objectives to ensure success.
• Share research evidence with colleagues, parents,
  and community members.
• Encourage future research projects in the area of
  Adventure Education.

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References
Bunyan, P. (1997, January 1). Developing Self
Esteem through Adventure Moving from Theory to
Practice. Horizons, (ERIC Document Reproduction
Service No. EJ556051) Retrieved October 20, 2007
from ERIC database. Cason, D., Others, A.
(1993, January 1). Raising Self-Esteem and
Preventing Drug Abuse among Sixth Graders
Effects of an Adventure Experience. ERS Spectrum,
11(2), 38. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service
No. EJ463914) Retrieved October 20, 2007, from
ERIC database. Glass, J., Shoffner, M. (2001,
October). Adventure-Based Counseling in Schools.
Professional School Counseling, 5(1), 42.
Retrieved November 15, 2007, from Academic Search
Premier database. Halliday, Nancy. (1999,
August). Developing self-esteem though challenge
education experiences. Journal of Physical
Education, Recreation, Dance, 70(6),
51-60. Humberstone, B. Lynch, P. (1990). Girls
Concepts of Themselves and Their Experiences in
Outdoor Education Programmes. Journal of
Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership. 8(3)
27-31. Kemp, T. (1998, January 1). Panacea or
Poison? Building Self-Esteem through Adventure
Experiences. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service
No. ED424053) Retrieved November 2, 2007, from
ERIC database.
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References
Kolb, D. (1988, January 1). Self-Esteem Change
and Mandatory Experiential Education. Journal of
Experiential Education, 11(3), 31. (ERIC Document
Reproduction Service No. EJ387725) Retrieved
November 5, 2007, from ERIC database. McRoberts,
M. (1994, January 1). Self-Esteem in Young
Offenders. Journal of Adventure Education and
Outdoor Leadership, 11(4), 9. (ERIC Document
Reproduction Service No. EJ505538) Retrieved
November 25, 2007, from ERIC database. Nassar-McMi
llan, S., Cashwell, C. (1997, December).
Building self-esteem of children and adolescents
through adventure-based counseling. Journal of
Humanistic Education Development, 36(2), 59.
Retrieved November 15, 2007, from Academic Search
Premier database. Swarbrick, N., Tutton, K.
(2004, August). Self-esteem and successful
interaction as part of the forest school project.
Support for Learning, 19(3), 142-146. Retrieved
November 4, 2007, from EJS E-Journals
database. Trzesniewski, K., Donnellan, M.,
Moffitt, T., Robins, R., Poulton, R., Caspi, A.
(2006, March). Low self-esteem during adolescence
predicts poor health, criminal behavior, and
limited economic prospects during adulthood.
Developmental Psychology, 42(2), 381-390.
Retrieved November 15, 2007, from PsycARTICLES
database.
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References
Vogel, R. (1989, January 1). Adventure Training
Its Effect on Self-Actualization and
Self-Perception of Personal Change. Journal of
Outdoor Education, 23, 20. (ERIC Document
Reproduction Service No. EJ398221) Retrieved
November 1, 2007, from ERIC database. Wick, D.,
Wick, J., Peterson, N. (1997, October).
Improving Self-Esteem with Adlerian Adventure
Therapy. Professional School Counseling, 1(1),
53-56. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from Academic
Search Premier database.