S3 Outdoor Challenge October 29, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 8comments
Well done to Knox Academy for winning the s3 challenge on Friday. A dry but windy day this year. All the teams did extremely well. Thanks to all the pupils that made it a success once again. An unexpected challenge at the start as some cattle were moved added to the experience. Thanks too to the rangers, associates and all the Secondary School staff, both in school and at the event that make it all happen. I look forward to next years challenge.
The winning team are holding the Golden Boot in the middle of the picture. Congratulations Knox Academy.
Skye, rainbows, seals, eagles, otters, fossils, waterfalls, mountains, caves and rain! October 22, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 2commentsA few pictures from last weeks Skye trip. First time on Skye for 10 years what a magical place but the weather hindered our rock-climbing but some good scrambles and a great paddle on Loch Eishort. Look forward to another trip.
Make my day punk! -Dissertation Detectives October 11, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Dissertation, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
I have been at Sheffield Hallam University for the last couple of days on a dissertation workshop. Its been enjoyable to meet other people going through the same difficulties, hopes and aspirations in choosing research topics and research methodology. The conversations with students going through the same learning process can be very powerful as the delegates bring huge experience in a variety of fields from all over the world. ( USA, France, Mauritius, India and of course Scotland). It is certainly helping me look at my topic from different perspectives.
A one to one with inspirational Colin Beard helped focus my dissertation question.(More on this later). An excellent session by Colin using famous detectives to help us investigate different ways of consulting and researching was extremely enjoyable (I’m a big fan of the use of metaphor and analogy as a learning aid). We analysed the profiles of Dirty Harry, Columbo, Poirot and Sherlock Holmes and nomothemic and ideographic approaches The session certainly helped focus our thoughts on choosing methodologies and the methodological perspective and I am now starting to look forward to the research although I might veer away from using the Dirty harry technique of detecting.
TeachMeet Podcasting October 8, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning, podcast , 3comments
At the TeachMeet on Friday I think a few people at the Podcast workshop were surprised to see an Outdoor Education Teacher take the session. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed leading this session . Some examples below. I felt it was important for the groups to have an experience to podcast on so we used the “magic stick” problem.
(Screengrab from presentation.)
Radio Broadcast.mp3 - Sports Bulletin Radio Broadcast
Rap.mp3 - Rap
Amazing to observe what the groups came up with. The podcast ideas generated included a radio broadcast, a French sports commentary, rap & a group discussion. Quite hard to fit all the advice into one session but I think most enjoyed the afternoon and hopefully some delegates are inspired to continue podcasting.
Thanks to Elizabeth & Suzanne for asking me to do the session, Marion for lugging the gear and Alastair for covering my S2 Kayak course. A learning experience for me too. Look forward to doing it again.
Law Primary Blog. Law 24 October 3, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Law Primary School , 1 comment so farI have been looking at the Law Primary School blog for ideas fora possible new East Lothian Outdoor Education website using wordpress software for the design. What a fantastic site using different pages to post items in different areas of interest for the user, i.e. parent, pupil, teacher etc. Particularly enjoyed the animation that P3 pupils have been doing, the staff animation is very dramatic (a good example below) -Inspired! is there a sequel?
movies.
CPD Intdroduction to Problem Solving, Trust and Co-operative Games October 2, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , add a comment
Today I ran a course for EL teaching staff on Problem Solving. Thank you all for attending the course and all your ideas and enthusiasm. Here are some links for the course as promised. If you can please also leave feedback (click on comments). This would be useful in shaping the design of future courses. I feel that the course could certainly do with being longer as it’s hard to fit it all in in such a short time and do justice to the benefits of using the outdoors for delivering problem solving & teamwork activities.
Reviewing - Huge site on reviewing techniques by Roger Greenway, links, books, ideas etc.
Manifesto for Outdoor Learning.
Taking Learning Outdoors - Learning & Teaching Scotland site with info on Outdoor Connections Development Programme.
Institute for Outdoor Learning - Loads of resources and bookshop.
Forest Schools - Taking learning outdoors in woodland environment.
There are of course many more available on the web, but these should get you started.
Please contact me if your require further information or help in teaching problem solving activities. Have fun.
Feels like summer. October 1, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 2commentsNo real reason for posting this but went for an early evening walk and it was beautiful. Couldn’t resist a picture.Only had phone camera but still turned out OK.
