Inner-workings of My Mind

Data Results from my Study

After analysis of the data, open coding, axial coding and selective coding what it all boiled down to was an ongoing and endless amount of possibilities found in the forest schools.   Below is an image of a "systems thinking" visual model of what the data revealed.

So, please let me explain this graphic.  Yes, there is a lot going on in this image, but there was a lot going on at the Forest Schools too.   
Analysis
Through the first stage of analysis I used open coding, which means as I read through I looked for particular themes and ideas that stood out or were reoccurring.  There were 15 themes that stood out.  I then read through the data and coded any words, phases or sentences that fit each of the themes.

​Axial Coding
The next level of coding is called Axial.  During this stage I looked for connections between the core theme and broke them down core themes into larger collective categories.  Through this analytical technique four main categories emerged plus an outlier category.  They are listed below with the sub-categories below them.  The sub-categories are not in a hierarchical order.

Selective Coding
The final stage of analytical coding is called selective coding.  During this stage I took another pass through the data and chose the core concept, which all other categories and sub-categories are grouped around in order to explain the phenomenon of Forest Schools.  And it is no big surprise that the core concept is Nature.
Nature
Nature is the environment, the classroom, the supplies, the teacher and the inspiration for absolutely everything in these schools as one would assume.  All experiences are centered around nature.  Even if the school is set in a sparsely wooded area, whatever nature can be found will be use.  All interactions, lessons and activities either revolved around being in nature or respecting nature.  The level that directly connects to nature has three components; Creativity, Autonomy and Play
The Big Three: Creativity, Autonomy and Play​

I will continue this story but I think I may be  getting a bit too detailed for one post.

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