COE COE Curriculum Design & Program Planning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When designing a multi-day outdoor education program, which foundational step should occur FIRST?
- Booking equipment rentals
- Defining clear learning objectives aligned with participant needs (Correct answer)
- Selecting the outdoor venue
- Assigning instructor roles
Correct answer: Defining clear learning objectives aligned with participant needs
Learning objectives must be defined first so every subsequent planning decision supports those intended outcomes.
Question 2: Which curriculum model is most commonly applied in experiential outdoor education programs?
- Direct instruction model
- Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle (Correct answer)
- Bloom's Taxonomy lecture model
- Mastery learning model
Correct answer: Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle
Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle (concrete experience → reflective observation → abstract conceptualization → active experimentation) underpins most outdoor education curricula.
Question 3: A COE program serves participants aged 10–14 with mixed ability levels. What is the BEST curricular approach?
- One uniform lesson plan for all participants
- Differentiated instruction with tiered challenges (Correct answer)
- Advanced-only content to raise the group standard
- Eliminating all physical challenges to ensure safety
Correct answer: Differentiated instruction with tiered challenges
Differentiated instruction allows educators to scaffold activities so every participant experiences appropriate challenge and success.
Question 4: In backward design for outdoor education, what does the educator establish LAST?
- Acceptable evidence of learning
- Desired learning results
- Specific learning activities and experiences (Correct answer)
- Assessment criteria
Correct answer: Specific learning activities and experiences
Backward design (Wiggins & McTighe) establishes goals, then assessments, and finally the learning activities — activities come last.
Question 5: Which element is ESSENTIAL when sequencing activities in a COE program curriculum?
- Random ordering to keep participants engaged
- Progressive difficulty that builds on prior skills (Correct answer)
- Starting with the most complex challenge first
- Separating physical and cognitive activities entirely
Correct answer: Progressive difficulty that builds on prior skills
Sequencing activities from simple to complex ensures participants build competence and confidence incrementally.
Question 6: A site-specific hazard assessment reveals a planned river crossing is unsafe for the group. What should the outdoor educator do?
- Proceed if most participants consent
- Modify the itinerary to remove or replace the activity (Correct answer)
- Reduce the group size for the crossing
- Skip the hazard assessment findings
Correct answer: Modify the itinerary to remove or replace the activity
Program plans must be flexible; identified hazards require activity modification or substitution to maintain participant safety.
COE COE Curriculum Design & Program Planning 1
When designing a multi-day outdoor education program, which foundational step should occur FIRST?