MovementScapes as ecomotricity in ecopedagogy

ABSTRACT

This elaboration of an ecopedagogy in movementscapes aims to present an empirically informed account of the concept of ecomotricity as manifested in the living body interacting in/with nature (human-and-other-than-human). This interaction is ludic (where pleasure or joy/happiness gives meaning to the lived experience) and ecological (ecosomaesthetic-environmentally ethical-ecopolitical) and provides for revitalized and animated ecopedagogical practices (and research). Critical examples and insights are presented as praxical evidence of how the ecophenomenological and ludic essence of ecomotricity challenges individuals in particular movementscapes to question their ways of being-in-the-world as a form of ecobecoming potentiality. This step towards the (de)(re)construction of environmentally oriented outdoor experiential learning in moving body-time-space relationalities is, potentially, significant to overcoming some of the ontological limits to rational change too often uncritically presumed pedagogically regarding human-nature relations.

KEYWORDS:

• ecophenomenology
• environmental aesthetics
• environmental education research
• human motricity
• physical/sport education

Acknowledgment

I would like to thank Professor Phillip Payne for his expert advice and encouragement throughout the elaboration of this manuscript. His commitment to the development of environmental education (research) is inspirational.