Is the Comfort Zone Model still fit for purpose?
Details:
1:45 – 3:00 pm
Friday 6th December
Room: 4N-120
Loren Miller & Fiona Nicholls
The comfort zone model has been an accepted part of outdoor education facilitation practice for decades – but is taking young people out of their comfort zone really where the magic happens? Outward Bound Australia is exploring this question in partnership with PhD researcher Fiona Nicholls, lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University (UK), and long-time outdoor practitioner. This action-research project investigates how the ‘comfort zone model’ is applied to participant learning and experience, reflecting on different program elements based on OBA’s ‘Gutsy Girls’ 10 day expedition in the Walpole Wilderness region.
The project is exploring ways of evolving the comfort zone model to be more contemporary and inclusive in OBA’s strategic context – innovating to respond to the changing needs of young people and the environment. This session examines the strengths and weaknesses of the comfort zone model. It will share ideas about shifting the model and language to find a more effective way to underpin program pedagogy and promotion, to mitigate the limitations of the comfort zone model in contemporary contexts.
About the Presenter
As CEO and Co-Chair of Outward Bound Australia, Loren returned to outdoor education in 2020 to lead Outward Bound through change and innovation. This capstones 30 years in education, including executive roles in universities and consulting. Loren knows outdoor education well, having worked as a Group Leader in her early career with Outward Bound, and from working with OEG and Sport and Recreation Victoria. Passionate about the future of outdoor education, Loren is the founder of the collaborative initiative to establish a National Centre for Outdoor Risk and Readiness (NatCORR) – to mitigate climate change impacts for outdoor practitioners in Australia. Loren has a Doctorate of Education, MBA, Grad Dip of Education, BSc, CPA and AICD.
