Moray House School of Education and Sport

Peter Wooding, MSc Outdoor Education 2021

'The course has given me the confidence to challenge old, outdated practices. I have refined my critical thinking, and this has influenced the course I now design, plan and teach.'

Peter Wooding on outdoor expedition
Peter Wooding

Where are you from?

Originally South Africa but I've been living elsewhere and have dual citizenship.

What do you like best about your programme?

All the staff are very passionate about their different fields of expertise. They are also very supportive and understanding of life's circumstances. I found all the staff approachable and helpful.

The variety of  modules was good. I enjoyed how some modules were off-campus and brought outdoor learning alive.

I met so many inspiring people from around the world and made some life long friends. From a professional perspective, this is an awesome networking opportunity.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about applying to your programme?

This is an opportunity to critique your own practice and understanding of outdoor learning.  Be sure to do the pre-course reading as the classes are very interactive and not doing the prep work diminishes the overall learning experience. The cliché 'you get what you put in' stands true with this programme of study. I believe that with the challenges society, humans, and the environment are facing globally, outdoor learning can help us find critically informed solutions. This course can be an immersive experience so dive in and enjoy!

And load your pockets with snacks! The staff will have more energy than you. This is not a 9-5 lecture series so be ready for plans to change, just like an expedition.

What made you choose Moray House School of Education and Sport?

The outdoor programme has an excellent reputation and has influenced practice, including strongly influencing Scotland's educational curriculum. Through living and working in Scotland's outdoor education, it is hard not to know the staff or know of them. The passion and energy of the lecturers made my choice very easy.

How do you feel your experience has better prepared you for your future career?

The course has given me the confidence to challenge old, outdated practices. I have refined my critical thinking, and this has influenced the course I now design, plan and teach. Having a deeper understanding of outdoor learning has improved the quality of the course I work on. The course's international reputation is widely known in the spectrum of outdoor learning, which has helped me network and find interesting opportunities.