Morten Asfeldt

Professor, Augustana - Social Sciences

Contact

Professor, Augustana - Social Sciences
Email
masfeldt@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 679-1158
Address
2-307 Faith & Life Centre
4901-46 Ave
Camrose AB
T4V 2R3

Overview

About

My home within the University of Alberta is in the Augustana Faculty in Camrose, an undergraduate liberal arts and sciences faculty. During my academic career, I have developed many international teaching and research connections and collaborations most notably in Scandinavia, the UK, and Japan. I grew-up in northern Canada (Newfoundland and Yukon) and have spent the last 30 years traveling by canoe, raft, foot, snowshoe, and dogsled to many parts of the NWT and Nunavut. One of the most gratifying aspects of my academic career has been sharing my love and knowledge of the north with students and colleagues from around the world.


Research

My research and teaching are tightly interwoven. My research explores questions that have arisen from my experience of teaching which includes spending hundreds of days and nights with students on extended wilderness educational expeditions, particularly in the Canadian north. For example, my research has explored perceived learning, critical elements, lasting impacts of wilderness educational expeditions, sense-of-place, journal writing, and research methods. In many ways, my research is a form of self-reflection on my experience of teaching with the goal of improving and understanding my life of teaching. In partnership with Dr. Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, we hold a SSRHC grant investigating the philosophies, characteristics, and goals of Outdoor Education in Canada.


Teaching

My teaching is primarily in the areas of outdoor, adventure, and experiential education. Many of my courses include wilderness expeditions such as canoeing, dogsledding, and hiking. However, these activities are primarily a means-to-an-end. The end I seek is a liberal education where students learn about themselves, working in groups, leadership, the world around them, and, of course, the development of wilderness travel skills while pursing the specific disciplinary goals of a particular course. Pedagogically, I seek to create organic learning experiences that encourage students to engage head, hands, and heart.

Featured Publications

Morten Asfeldt, Simon Beames, Jannicke Høyem, Chris North, Takako Takano

Journal of Experiential Education. 2024 October; Advanced Online Publication - Open Access 10.1177/10538259241288470


Morten Asfeldt, Bob Henderson, Mike Brown, Brendon Munge

In S. Beames & P. Maher, Routledge Handbook of Mobile Technology, Social Media and the Outdoors. 2024 September; 10.4324/9781003367536


Morten Asfeldt, Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, Thomas Zimmerman

Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. 2022 August; Advanced Online - Open Access 10.1007/s42322-022-00102-4


Morten Asfeldt, Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, Thomas Zimmerman

Environmental Education Research. 2022 August; Advanced Online - Open Access 10.1080/13504622.2022.2061919


Simon Priest, Morten Asfeldt

The International Journal of Sport History. 2022 June; Advanced Online 10.1080/09523367.2022.2083108


Morten Asfeldt

In Henderson, B. and Blenkinsop, S. (2022). Paddling Pathways: Reflections on a Changing Landscape. Your Nickel's Worth Publishing.. 2022 May;


Morten Asfeldt, Paul Stonehouse

In Thomas, G., Dyment, J., Prince, H. (eds) Outdoor Environmental Education in Higher Education. International Explorations in Outdoor and Environmental Education, vol 9. Springer, Cham. 2021 November; 10.1007/978-3-030-75980-3_28


Morten Asfeldt, Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, Mikeala Rawleigh, Sydney Thackeray

Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. 2020 June; Advanced Online


Morten Asfeldt, Takako Takano

Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. 2020 May; 32 (2):12-33


Purc-Stephenson, R.; Rawleigh, M.; Kemp, H. & Asfeldt, M.

Journal of Experiential Education. 2019 May; (Advance Online):1-18


Asfeldt, M., Hvenegaard, G. & Stephenson, R.

Journal of Experiential Education. 2018 January; 41 (3):241-260


Mikeals, J. & Asfeldt, M.

The Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education.. 2017 January; 20 (2):2-13


Asfeldt, Purc-Stephenson, Hvenegaard

Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership. 2017 January; 9 (3):323-339


Asfeldt, M. & Beames, S.

Journal of Experiential Education.. 2017 January; 40 (1):72-86


Asfeldt, M.

The Teaching Professor. 31 (10):1, 7.