Wild Pedagogies in Practice: Inspiration for Higher Education

Wild pedagogies (WP) are emerging as critical, relational alternative to current, often unsustainable learning practices. WP aim to offer a way of learning in, with, through and for nature, embracing a post-humanist, relational perspective. So far, WP have mainly been explored theoretically. Increas...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Reineke Susan van Tol, Arjen Wals
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-05-01
Series:Australian Journal of Environmental Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0814062625000163/type/journal_article
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849770050567798784
author Reineke Susan van Tol
Arjen Wals
author_facet Reineke Susan van Tol
Arjen Wals
author_sort Reineke Susan van Tol
collection DOAJ
description Wild pedagogies (WP) are emerging as critical, relational alternative to current, often unsustainable learning practices. WP aim to offer a way of learning in, with, through and for nature, embracing a post-humanist, relational perspective. So far, WP have mainly been explored theoretically. Increasingly, educators both within and outside of formal education, are inspired and apply WP in their education. Throughout the world, examples of learning that fit into WPs’ living definition, are emerging. However, concrete inspiration for how to bring WP theory into practice, is still largely lacking. In this paper, we explore three emerging approaches at Wageningen University (The Netherlands), that are inspired by wild pedagogies. Empirically, we combine formative evaluations of course designs with participant observation in a collective case study setting over three years. The empirical research is embedded in an explorative literature review that led us to four explorative areas of WP, namely (1) Wild and caring learning spaces (2) Learning from self-will and wonder (3) Relational learning with the world and (4) Disruptive learning for the world. Eventually we present concrete inspiration on those four areas for implementing WP in formal higher education.
format Article
id doaj-art-5b3a0a86999243cdbd5e4e72145f9fa7
institution DOAJ
issn 0814-0626
2049-775X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
record_format Article
series Australian Journal of Environmental Education
spelling doaj-art-5b3a0a86999243cdbd5e4e72145f9fa72025-08-20T03:03:11ZengCambridge University PressAustralian Journal of Environmental Education0814-06262049-775X2025-05-014117719910.1017/aee.2025.16Wild Pedagogies in Practice: Inspiration for Higher EducationReineke Susan van Tol0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2623-7589Arjen Wals1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4735-1126Forest & Nature Conservation Policy Group (FNP) and Education & Learning Sciences group (ELS), Wageningen University, Wageningen, The NetherlandsEducation & Learning Sciences Group (ELS), Wageningen University, Wageningen, The NetherlandsWild pedagogies (WP) are emerging as critical, relational alternative to current, often unsustainable learning practices. WP aim to offer a way of learning in, with, through and for nature, embracing a post-humanist, relational perspective. So far, WP have mainly been explored theoretically. Increasingly, educators both within and outside of formal education, are inspired and apply WP in their education. Throughout the world, examples of learning that fit into WPs’ living definition, are emerging. However, concrete inspiration for how to bring WP theory into practice, is still largely lacking. In this paper, we explore three emerging approaches at Wageningen University (The Netherlands), that are inspired by wild pedagogies. Empirically, we combine formative evaluations of course designs with participant observation in a collective case study setting over three years. The empirical research is embedded in an explorative literature review that led us to four explorative areas of WP, namely (1) Wild and caring learning spaces (2) Learning from self-will and wonder (3) Relational learning with the world and (4) Disruptive learning for the world. Eventually we present concrete inspiration on those four areas for implementing WP in formal higher education.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0814062625000163/type/journal_articleInner transformationrelational outdoor learningwild pedagogies
spellingShingle Reineke Susan van Tol
Arjen Wals
Wild Pedagogies in Practice: Inspiration for Higher Education
Australian Journal of Environmental Education
Inner transformation
relational outdoor learning
wild pedagogies
title Wild Pedagogies in Practice: Inspiration for Higher Education
title_full Wild Pedagogies in Practice: Inspiration for Higher Education
title_fullStr Wild Pedagogies in Practice: Inspiration for Higher Education
title_full_unstemmed Wild Pedagogies in Practice: Inspiration for Higher Education
title_short Wild Pedagogies in Practice: Inspiration for Higher Education
title_sort wild pedagogies in practice inspiration for higher education
topic Inner transformation
relational outdoor learning
wild pedagogies
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0814062625000163/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT reinekesusanvantol wildpedagogiesinpracticeinspirationforhighereducation
AT arjenwals wildpedagogiesinpracticeinspirationforhighereducation