ABSTRACT
Knowledge without love will not stick, but if love comes first, knowledge is sure to follow.
(John Burroughs)
The discussion in this chapter focuses on academic goals and how they can be fostered in natural environments. The term “academic” is often associated with traditional subject areas taught in a formal school setting, such as reading, mathematics, science, and social studies. Related goals can include desired learning outcomes in the areas of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values. The main focus of academic learning, however, tends to be on knowledge and skills – with a great deal of emphasis on the cognitive domain. Academic goals are sometimes differentiated from developmental goals, which are more holistic in nature – emphasizing all the developmental domains (physical, emotional, social, cognitive, etc.).
