“Outdoor Classroom Day” event was organized with the participation of the students of teachers of the Beyarmudu Municipality Pre-School Education Center, within the scope of “Traditional Children’s Plays” course taught by Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Faculty of Education, Elementary Education Department academic staff member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eda Yazgın. Held at EMU campus, the said event provided an opportunity for children to learn by interacting with nature.
“World Supports the ‘Outdoor Classroom Day’ Event”
In her remarks regarding the topic, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eda Yazgın stated that World Outdoor Classroom Day is a global educational initiative, where teachers move their classrooms outdoors each year to support children’s right to learn, experience, and play outside. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yazgın added that the event was an educational campaign in line with sustainable development goals, and shared that pre-school students from Beyarmudu Municipality Education Center participated in various outdoor activities at the EMU campus with teacher candidates. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yazgın also emphasized that through activities such as collage-making, printing, and dramatic play with materials from nature, the students were able to experience the freedom of learning beyond the traditional classroom in a sustainable way.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yazgın explained that the event provided developmental benefits for both pre-school children and teacher candidates and, emphasized that these interactive experiences not only improve the professional skills of teacher candidates but also increase awareness about safeguarding and advocating for children’s developmental rights. Additionally, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yazgın stressed the importance of strengthening university-school partnerships in achieving societal development objectives and highlighted the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of such initiatives.
Also making remarks during the event, Buse Varoğlu, Director of the Beyarmudu Municipality Pre-School Education Center, said; “I am honoured to have organized this event alongside students, colleagues, and professors from the faculty where I graduated. I look forward to the continuation of our university-school collaboration.” At the end of the event, students of Beyarmudu Municipality Pre-School Education Center expressed their happiness to be at the campus with EMU academics, referring to the EMU campus as ‘big school’ and EMU faculty members as ‘great teachers’.