The Fourth International Outdoor Education Research Conference, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
April 15-18, 2009
Assistant Professor Dr Lee Mah Ngee from the Department of Psychology & Counselling, Faculty of Arts & Social Science, Kampar Campus recently participated in the International Outdoor Education Research Conference, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia from April 15-18, 2009. This was the fourth in the series of International Outdoor Education Research Conferences. Themed “Outdoor education research and theory: critical reflections, new directions”, this conference has brought together a diverse delegation from around the world with wide-ranging notions of outdoor education and outdoor research. The focus of this conference is on understanding and critically analyzing outdoor education through research.
Dr Lee presented her paper on the first session on Day One of the conference. Her paper entitled “Connecting overseas community service-learning expedition and developments of personal capabilities in youths”, examines the impact of successful coping during the overseas community-service experience on the personal development of youths, namely, the development of civic attitudes, competence skills, and sense of self. According to Dr Lee, the conference provided a forum for stimulating and informative discussions through both formal and informal opportunities to share research methods and findings.
Towards the end of the conference, the participants were offered a range of excursion options that enabled the delegates to explore the region and at the same time engage in collegial discussion. Dr Lee opted to join the Mt Buffalo bushwalk expedition. The delegates were given a packed lunch each and they spent the day exploring the Australian alpine environment, breathing the crisp air and enjoying the majestic view from the Mt Buffalo plateau. It was aptly an outdoor education affair for the participants of this conference.
As a UTAR representative, Dr Lee has gained valuable experience from the conference. Dr Lee expressed that she was appreciative of the opportunity to meet and learn from other participants. It was indeed a productive and rewarding conference. “I hope to have my paper published in the conference proceeding as well as in the Australian Journal of Outdoor Education,” she enthused.
(PTO for photos)
The Fourth International Outdoor Education Research Conference, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
April 15-18, 2009
Mt Buffalo Bushwalk, excursion option organized by La Trobe University Conference in Beechworth.
The Mt Buffalo Explorer group photo: Participants of the Fourth International Outdoor Education Research Conference, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia.