Aesthetic harmonies

This chapter builds insights into the value of nature, technology and holistic learning from conversations between Mrs. Ally Hoy, the forest school lead at Padnell Infant School, and Tom Langston and Alex Sabine from the University of Portsmouth. Tom’s expertise in audience response and student engagement within higher education (HE) provides a sharp contrast with techniques used to engage infant school children. Alex, an expert on forest schools at the university, helps steer the discussion. The conversation explores the efficacy of engaging school children in outdoor environments versus the computer-based tools that Tom champions in HE. The chapter investigates the potential benefits of harmonising both pedagogies, revealing how a blended approach can bolster students’ holistic development and deepen their understanding of concepts through hands-on practice and immersion in natural settings.