Primary Watersport Days August 30, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning, Watersport days , add a comment
The Primary watersports days started this week. Great to see so much enthusiasim from all the pupils we have seen this week. The photos are of P6/7 Macmerry class who also have there own blog. I look forward to hearing their thoughts on how the day went for them and also seeing some of the images that their class teacher Mrs Ball captured.
These days are designed to give P6 and 7 pupils a chance to try out kayaking, canoeing or sailing at various locations throughout the region. It’s always heavily subscribed and gives pupils a great opportunity to try out watersports and hopefully be inspired to carry it on. Some high schools then use their allocation of time to get interested pupils governing body skill awards in these watersports and we know some will join some of the local clubs run in the region.
Peoples Contract August 28, 2007
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“Improve involvement in and achievement through increased involvement of children and young people in creative arts, sport, outdoor education and community volunteering” ( p8 Our Contract with the People, August 20th 2007,East Lothian Council)
It’s fantastic news that there is a commitment to Outdoor Education (amongst many other areas) as per the above extract and also to environmental education. This is fantastic news that the new administration see this as a key issue.We hope this will mean continued support for Outdoor Learning in East Lothian, and we in turn will continue to deliver and strive for excellence.
Leadership Programme August 27, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Leadership, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
I had a meeting on Friday With Don Leddingham and Ollie Bray to pick up on some ideas generated from Don’s Project adventure day during a recent trip to Harvard and Ollies recent posts on leader development Basically we hope use the impact of OMD (Outdoor Management Development) learning sessions and build them into Leadership Training for Education staff within East Lothian. With input from Alan Blackie and Kirsty Macrea our meeting soon developed some ideas for making this happen;
- Launch training, concentrating on nurture and well-being theme with an Outdoor day at a Head Teachers Conference in the Spring.
- Develop a training model of excellence using the local East Lothian Enviornment.
- Use the “training talent” within East Lothian to launch and staff future training days.
- John Muir to be the “model” and icon for the programme. “Leave no Footsteps”(still trying to find actual J Muir reference to this quote!)
- Potentially target a wider audience (commercial, community).
The course could be modelled on “emerging leaders” such as the one employed by the Leadership Trust, inspiration could be taken from other courses i.e. Heads Up and Columba 1400. There is certainly a need to focus the aims of the training and any launch event.
The next step is to set up a management team to inject ideas and focus the aims and of course get the project moving. This would ideally be made up of ;
- 2 Head Teachers from Secondary
- 2 Head Teachers from Primary
- Representatives from local Business
- Head of Education
- Head of Community Services
- Head Of CPD
- 2 representatives of Outdoor Education
- Ranger rep and/or Access officer
I have already broched the subject with enthusiastic Primary Heads and I know that Don is approaching Secondary Heads and local business contacts. I look forward to our meeting as it will
Forest Schools #2 August 23, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Forest Schools, Outdoor Learning , 3comments
“Forest Schools work, because they are regular, every week, for half a day or a full day. This builds up children’s skill, confidence and motivation, which of course impacts on them for the rest of the school week” Pete - Class Teacher Niddrie Primary School
Great news that Saltoun Primary School will start there Forest School in October.It has been well organised and planned by all involved and included on Wednesday a visit to the forest being used with the land manager . We also received some fantastic images(above there visual, and non visual? diary) from Pete Carthy,class teacher at Niddrie Mill Primary School. The presentation he gave highlighted many of the benifits of the Forest School for his class(see earlier post). His enthusiasim for the scheme shone through. I hope that Forest Schools will help bring on board more class teachers and EL staff. Anything that helps convey the benefits of learning outdoors is always welcome. The earlier post has the web contact for Forest Schools and of course there is always the next meeting to come along to for all those interested in finding out more! Plase contact Steven Wray at swray@eastlothian.gov.uk for more details.
Forest Schools August 17, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Forest Schools, Outdoor Learning , 2comments
“The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences” (www.forestschools.com)
Attended a great meeting yesterday on Forest Schools. Good to support any project that’s encoraging young people and wider community outdoors. Fantastic that Saltoun Primary will be the first “pilot” for the scheme. Good presentations from a class teacher from Niddry and the Central Scotland Education Advisor for the Forestry Commision explained some of the main benefits that they had witnessed first hand while running Forest Schools e.g;
- Improved Self awareness, self esteem and confidence
- Enhanced Communication skills
- Improved Intrinsic motivation
It certainly gives teaching and learning by using woodlands and natural habitat (often very immedtaie to the school) a good framework. It seems to have elements of Sunship Earth and Earthkeeper programmes but also more opportunities to promote learning through practical forestry management skills and beyond………………Loads of connections to alternative curriculum and The Curriculum For Excellence.
The next meeting for anyone interested is on Wednesday 3rd October. Contact me for more details.
From Climber to Leader - A metaphor for transferrable leadership skills? - Some thoughts on transferring leadership. August 15, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Leadership, Outdoor Learning , 3commentsThere have been a few posts recently about the transfer of leadership skills, what are leadership skills and developing leaders. Many of the Outdoor Management Development programmes use metaphors to promote discussion on these areas. While climbing over the last year or two with a colleague (video below) and watching her move from climber to lead climber has made me reflect on some of the reasons for that successful transition. I discussed this briefly with Sylvia and some points came out. It was also useful to look at some of the characteristics of lead climber and climber.
Traits of Climber
- Climbs well on top ropes and bottom ropes (i.e no chance of falling as leader has placed ropes and protection)
- Routes often chosen by someone else ( tends to follow decisions made, goals are already set))
- Seconds rather than leads (will follow the leader as the leader controls the rope and therefore situation)
- Has some knowledge of wider aspects of lead climbing i.e. rope-work and belays ( but not confident enough to put into practice)
- Enjoys climbing and perhaps aspires to lead climb but some anxiety ( needs opportunity )
Traits of Lead Climber
- Climbs confidently and places gear to protect him/her and others ( makes own safety net)
- Chooses own routes (makes decisions on what is suitable and achievable, sets own goals)
- Leads at a a variety of locations and climbs on arrival. ( Can transfer the skills to any location -often using guidebooks, research and wider reading)
- Leads - seconds follow on ropes, chooses suitable routes for second (advice transferred on route from leader)
- Has knowledge of rope-work and wider aspects ( can adapt for different locations)
- Enjoys climbing and can inspire others. (has time and a wider field of vision from belay point at the summit?)
How to make the transition…………..;
- The need for a Comfortable learning environment - i.e. somewhere that brings out your best- i.e. the chance to lead and gain experience in a variety of locations.
- The need for the right people mentoring - i.e - mentors that you can trust, show enthusiasm , provide appropriate encouragement.(”some people you just feel comfortable with”- “a good teacher is needed” - Sylvia) - there needs to be someone on the end of the rope you can trust with “hard” technical skills as well as “soft” mentoring skills
- The opportunity to experiment and get out of comfort zones - i.e. a level of anxiety can help performance or certainly a need to stretch can often help transfer of learning.
- Safety nets - knowing there is help and advice and most of all encouragement to continue if it all goes wrong.
- Feedback - a need to know if what you are doing is suitable and how to adjust if necessary - and plenty of praise.
- Time - for reflection and it all to sink in, but opportunity for accelerated learning as confidence grows.
There are loads of obvious metaphors to be had here (I could write all day) but you get the idea. All the processes of mentoring,coaching and leadership are evident in this climber & leader relationship. So I guess what I’m saying is I believe that leadership skills can be transferable and can be used to encourage leadership in others. There are however technical limits to leaders transferring skills (primary - secondary ?) but these could be overcome also by creative transition programmes(which could involve short term mentored placements at different locations) to complete the process and fill technical gaps.
.
Climbing at Berryhill August 11, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 4commentsHopefuly below the video will magically appear using code as advised by David - Thanks Dave. ; This has been a good chance to have a go at posting video, with advice from all it has been easy, although i had to convert the video from mpeg to avi and then rotate using windows moviemaker. This all also let me add a title. Still working on the adding music bit.I have added audio but it doesn’t seem to play when I run video.
Nice one Sylvia.
Outdoor Education USA Style August 8, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning, Risk Assesment , 1 comment so far
Hans Mundahl, an Outdoor Education practitioner in New Hampton has been posting some information on risk and uses a recent accident to highlight some areas. It’s been interesting reading his blog and to see other viewpoints on risk management. I worked for a while in the USA running Adventure Trips for a family run summer camp and yes there was a different style to risk assessment. We used much more dynamic on the spot risk assessments rather than relying on generic risk assessments that sit in a file back in the office.This only works of course if the assessor has a certain level of qualification, experience and knowledge. The beautiful and stunning state of New Hampshire was one of the areas that we an trips too so great to hear from a blogger working in Outdoor Education in that area. Han’s blog has lots of excellent links to other practitioners in the US which I am enjoying reading. Great to share practice and ideas. Also amazing that people are reading this blog across the pond.