“A Powerful Approach To Learning” November 29, 2006
Posted by Bill in : DFES, Learning & Teaching Scotland, Learning Outside The Classroom Manifesto, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Learning , 1 comment so far
The new Learning Outside The Classroom Manifesto was launched by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in England and Wales this week and copies are now available. I have posted a Pdf one on the East Lothian Outdoor Education Service website, www.eloe.ik.org (click on noticeboard). Just on first browse through but there are some excellent sections. It reinforces the value of outdoor edcuation (including above comments) to the community and puts in context some of the benefits of using the outdoors as a classroom ( Which the Outdoor Industry has of course being saying for years!). Great to see something in print, but will be keen to see how the DFES can sustain the pledge to “provide all young people with a wide range of experiences outside the classroom, throughout their education” . I look forward to seeing similar pledges in Scotland.
I know it is happening in many schools already in Scotland and East Lothian but it would be great to have endorsment, recognition of its value and full political and media support. Perhaps the Outdoor Connections and LTS are going down this route of producing or lobbying for a manifesto. (See http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/takinglearningoutdoors/ )
Adult Education Introduction to Navigation November 29, 2006
Posted by Bill in : Adult Education, NNAS, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
I have been teaching on an Introduction to Navigation Course the last couple of days. It’s great to see enthusiasim for gaining, improving and learning new skills. The course delegates came from a range of backgrounds in East Lothian and bring lots of skills with them too. We were using the NNAS (National Navigation Awards Scheme) as a framework (see http://www.nnas.org.uk/). This course was advertised in the Focus magazine and we will advertise more courses for next year. I trust the new 
skills gained will help the course members in their adventures.
Canoeing on The Spey : Learning all the time! November 26, 2006
Posted by Bill in : Canoeing, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
I was up at Glenmore Lodge on a CPD course (level 3 Open Canoe Refresher). Wow isn’t it great to get out and actually be taught! I learned a tremendous amount and now feel energised and refreshed. Two river trips on different sections of the Spey, which were a little washed out with all the rain. It just brought home to me again the need to keep learning and witness good practice from other educators and facilitators. Also if the DFES is telling teachers to get their pupils out of the classroom( Learning Outside The Classroom Manifesto) we should be encouraging Teachers to do the same?
(PS: If you didn’t already know ELOE already offer a range of CPD courses for East Lothian Staff - see website or call office . www.eloe.ik.org.- sorry folks about the blatant sell!)
“Teachers told:bring back adventure” November 26, 2006
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Education , add a commentLots of headlines this weekend (above The Observer 26.11). This all due to the DFES launches “sweeping” reforms and the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto(Launch date 28.11.06) to try and ensure that pupils get regular time outside the classroom. Alan Johnson (Education Secretary – England and Wales) is quoted as saying “learning outside the classroom should be at the heart of every schools curriculum and ethos”.
Have to say this is excellent however there are several outdoor centres due to close in England and Wales due to lack of funding and support from LEA’s. I recently wrote to a newspaper on the imminent closure of a centre I previously taught at ( see, http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/search) So statements from Education Ministers and what’s happening on the ground once again don’t seem to add up?
I wonder if Scotland’s Education community will follow with appropriate lobbying for similar moves towards a manfiesto Perhaps a Job for SAPOE ?
Orienteering November 22, 2006
Posted by Bill in : A Curriculum for Excellence, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Learning, orienteering , 7comments
We have been running orienteering days recently for the last few weeks with more to do in January. These have been aimed at Primary Schools in East Lothian. Today I was thinking how well these work for so many as a positive learning experience. It’s success seems to be in the way pupils can learn experientially so quickly. From virtually no map skills in some cases to completing a variety of courses in a couple of hours.
They have an instant measure of success and there is loads of room for progression. Using different environments for learning (i.e. different venues) seems to help too and the skills learned tie in to the curriculum and of course the Curriculum For Excellence….with the pupils arriving with a high level of “enthusiasim and motivation for learning” and definitley contributes to developing “confident individuals”
At Newhailes today the pupils excelled and all possible with co-operation from the National Trust Scotland for allowing us to use the venue (Highly Supportive). Thanks for the support of Primary staff and helpers.
Scottish Conference for Outdoor Learning. November 20, 2006
Posted by Bill in : A Curriculum for Excellence, Outdoor Education , 3comments
This conference was well attended at the weekend and there were a great range of delegates attending from the spectrum of outdoor education within Scotland. A variety of workshops were run in several areas of outdoor learning. See IOL website for more info www.outdoor-learning.org . The most useful session for me being the Curriculum for Excellence workshop. In this workshop again as last week we could see a huge opportunity for the outdoor community to contribute to the curriculum and looking closer at the original design principles we could see it could almost have been written by OE facilitators!
As well as quickly recgonising there were a number of dichotomys in the design i.e. between
Self ———————Group learning
Consumers————–Contributors
(With the emphasis on a movement right—–)
One of our interpratations seemed to be the need for a clear movement of learning from prescribed and tested learning to more holistic and discovery learning. This is nothing new and most see the value ( see Oliie Bray’s Extreme Learning blog http://edubuzz.org/blogs/olliebray) of learners being able to digest the curriculum from a more learner centered approach.
I can see that the Curriculum for Excellence is going to become a major discussion point in the outdoor industry.
A Curriculum For Excellence Seminar - Brunton Hall 16th Nov. November 20, 2006
Posted by Bill in : A Curriculum for Excellence, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Learning , 2commentsI attended a seminar last week at Brunton Hall on the Curriculum for Excellence. Presentations by the Ranger Service,The Sports Development Team, Museum service and a presentation on Family Learning all gave useful insights into how many areas of the learning community can contribute to the Curriculum for Excellence. Don Leddingham also facilitated a useful disscussion.(See http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog). I feel that Outdoor Ed can contribute in a huge way as a delivery agent for many of the capacities in the curriculum , however our discussion “threw into the hat” much more. It for me highlighted that there seems to be a lot of variance on what a curriculum for Excellence is all about, depending on your interpration. This may also be the beauty of it rather than a flaw - It means it can engage everyone!. The more people involved in helping acheive this aspirational agenda the better. Links to offical site below. Lots of info. I found the ministerial response particularly interesting and the support resources for implementation of the agenda.
http://www.acurriculumforexcellencescotland.gov.uk/
New Blogger November 20, 2006
Posted by Bill in : A Curriculum for Excellence, Outdoor Education , 1 comment so far
Well it’s finally happened, after reading many of the blogs posted mainly by East Lothian Education Employees I have finally taken the plunge to start blogging. I intend to use this site to give users an insight into aspects of working as an Outdoor Education Teacher within East Lothian.
I hope to get started in earnest soon. Later today I will post information on a couple of seminars I have attended in the last few days, One within East Lothian regarding the Curriculum for Excellence and also the Institute for Outdoor Learning Conference on Saturday. The Curriculum for Excellence is an important issue for Outdoor Education and I will be posting some links and information.
As soon as I get to grips with the software I will start posting.
