Union Canal Journey September 26, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning, Ross High School , 6commentsLiz (Outdoor Ed) & Feargal (Ross High) were running an expedition for Ross High this week, and I went along to assess. I spent an afternoon and evening paddling with the group on a section of the Union Canal. A fantastic place for a journey and full of history.
Amongst other things I asked them about the aims of their expedition and in many ways their responses mirrored the aims set out by the D of E organisation i.e. “to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery” but they also mentioned challenge, teamwork, leadership. It’s very rewarding to hear pupils using these terms in such a positive manner.Congratulations all round to the team.
Blogs for Pupil Events and Outdoor Challenges September 26, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 2comments
In the newsletter I have mentioned the possible use of blogs to aid transfer of learning by reflection on outdoor experiences. Recently I have been thinking it could be an ideal opportunity to make a specific blog for challenges and events. I was reading Hans Mundahl’s blog over the pond in New Hampshire where he posted a great link for those interested in using blogs for events.
Are events are reasonably small scale but can often connect with hundreds of individuals (e.g. intro to watersports/orienteering for primary schools). The blog/web page format could be a link for pupils comments helping them (by a different medium) to write about their experiences and post their work online. There is certainly the nuts and bolts of it to sort out, but some excellent input from David at Edubuzz has made it technically easier (thanks David). My main reasearch has been in asking Teaching staff at events whether they would actually use it? The response has been mixed. I will keep fielding the idea and try and get one running for one of the future events.
Dissertation #1 September 20, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Dissertation, Outdoor Learning , 1 comment so far
After completing my PGDip. I received my materials to start my dissertation for my MSc in Outdoor Management Development this evening. Half of me say great lets get going, the other says oh no what have I let myself in for! I have a residential workshop to attend next month and then it’s full steam ahead. Now I have to come up with some topics to shape into a dissertation. I have been looking into a few idea lately but can’t seem to settle on one line of research. I am quite keen to investigate and form a question in one of the following following areas;
- Is there transferability of management skills gained in outdoor learning experiences?
- How do employees perceive Learning Organisations (could be East Lothian research)?
- Story-telling in organisations are there differences between management & employee perception of events and how they shape the work environment?
So much work to do. Narrowing it down is the first thing, topic 3 is attractive could be laborious as there is not a great deal of literature available. Anyway 2 weeks to narrow it down! A bit of blogging might help me focus.
Innerwick Outdoor Centre - Eco Centre? September 19, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , add a comment
After some feedback from recent users (Longniddry PS), we suddenly realised we were not recycling well at Innerwick Outdoor Centre and had not provided any facilities for recycling for our users. As a result Keith has been sorting out getting us some bins for recycling and how we can get them to a recycling point as the access road at Innerwick wont accomdate the bin men! At our last meeting Maree Johnston posed the question “could we be an eco-school”? . The answer is yes. We have contacted Keep Scotland Beautiful and they are giong to send us information specific to residential centres with changing users to get us moving. I have also asked a couple of schools if we could attend their eco-comittee meetings to get a flavour of what they do in acheiving the full “green award”.
We hope to get the Bronze/ Silver award asap. we will provide users with information on our policy and more green usage of the centre soon…
2nd Outdoor Education Service Staff Challenge 2007 September 15, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning, Staff Challenge , 8commentsThe Dunbar Grammar School Staff team (Highly competitive!) take home the trophy from this Fridays staff challenge.Well done to all the competitors at the 2nd East Lothian Outdoor Education Service Staff Challenge. A new venue this year and a new set of challenges. Lot’s of enthusiasm from all the teams who entered and Liz’s hard work in designing helped make it a success. Thanks again to the Rangers too who help with staffing these events. It would be great to get some structured feedback on such events i.e.;
- Staff jolly or team learning?
- Experiential learning or one off gee whiz?
- Transferable skills or forgettable tasks?
- Too physical or not challenging ?
I worry that the event being so short means that learning becomes diluted and often the message of the value of Learning Outdoors is missed. It would be great to get some more details information on what participants think about the events and it might help answer some of the above dichotomy’s.
I have been thinking lately and fielding the idea of setting up interactive blogs for our challenges and events. They could contain voting software(to focus questions) and comment sections for feedback. This would help bring experiences that pupils have in the outdoors directly into the classroom. I think more research on both would be valuable.
The slide show shows the final event. There will be more pictures available at the Outdoor Education Service website soon.
East Lothian Outdoor Education Autumn Newsletter September 10, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 1 comment so far
The latest newsletter is now available for download from the East Lothian Outdoor Education website and the Innerwick Outdoor Centre website. I looks like it will be another busy year with lots of challenges and events in store.
East Lothian Outdoor Education Service Newsletter
Video Animoto September 9, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 3commentsWas hoping to embedd the above video into the post but could only manage a link. anyway Animoto seems pretty good. I wonder if there is a way to embedd it into the blog? I tried putting in the code from the site but it doesn’t seem to work. anyone else been successful?
Help save Llanrug Outdoor Education Centre September 8, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 4comments
I have been following the media announcements about the Outdoor Centres owned and run by Worcestershire County Council. I was very disappointed to hear that they were planning on closing 2 out of the three centres run. All three are fantastic centres and run at a very high standard and it was a privilege to work at one as a Course Director.
So its very sad to hear that after much consultation and pressure from current and former users (this included a camp outside county headquarters by hundreds of people, an abseil into the council committee room to deliver a petition, research into alternate funding and even pressure by the schools that use them), that the Council has decided to close Llanrug Outdoor Education Centre in a cost cutting exercise.
If you believe in the value of quality Outdoor Education please click on the link below to sign the petition to parliament to try once more to save it.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Llanrug/
http://www.outdoor-ed.org.uk/ - link to media article on closure.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/6915195.stm - BBC News Link.
John Muir Way & North Sea Trail September 2, 2007
Posted by Bill in : John Muir Way, North Sea Trail, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
The John Muir Way, East Lothian’s 70km section of the North Sea Trail runs between Dunglass and Fisherrow, Musselburgh is an excellent way to walk and observe the diverse range of habitats in the region. Today the section between Gullane and Aberlady was officially opened by Councillor David Berry and Maree Johnston, Head of Landscape and Countryside. The access officers working in East Lothian with support from the landowners have made it all happen. The walk today was well attended by invited parties (I gate crashed!!) and the tea and cake at Aberlady was great. Roger the Ranger guided us safely on the enjoyable route. I’m sure John Muir would approve of East Lothian’s efforts to improve access and encourage residents of East Lothian to enjoy the local countryside.