Abstract thinking. August 10, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Learning Organisations, Outdoor Learning , add a comment
Funny coincidence. Last night we had a fantastic meal at Abstract Restaurant in Edinburgh, and I have just managed to finish my abstract for my MSc dissertation. I must say I have found it the hardest bit of all. It’s below but next time I will put it in a better format as Fearghal Kelly’s blog has done with his work on CT using Scribd or something similar, I’ll look at these options when I get time.
Can Educational Establishments be Learning Organisations?
ABSTRACT: Current literature on the concept of the Learning Organisation often indicates that schools and educational establishments are incapable of becoming Learning Organisations as they often suffer from hierarchical and bureaucratic structures. These are considered as barriers for all organisations in achieving the Learning Organisation ideal. It is clear that as Educational establishments continue to be placed on the frontiers of change they could benefit from adopting the Learning Organisation concept. Although there is an abundance of literature on Learning Organisations, there appears to be a lack of literature and data on educational establishments as learning organisations. This study examines what the key characteristics of a learning organisation are by reviewing some of the main works on this complex and often vague concept. This work also reviews and selects a diagnostic tool for use within the authors own Local Education Authority to gather data on whether the reviewed and identified key characteristics of a learning organisation are present. A range of educational establishments were sampled within a Scottish Local Authority. The results of a web based questionnaire show that the identified characteristics do exist in the sampled educational establishments. Considering the results highlighted that strengths and areas of learning organisation confidence as well as spikes of dissatisfaction and areas for future work for educational establishments’ to achieve the Learning Organisation ideal were evident. It also concludes that the use of diagnostic tools which give an illustration of Learning Organisation Shape have a potential to support the delivery of Outdoor Management Development courses. The study also appreciates and identifies the need for further work on Learning Organisation Diagnostic Tools for the education sector and the transfer of learning using more coherent language, models and more considered, carefully designed creative and relevant experiential activities in Outdoor Management Development.
Now that’s what I call a sunset August 7, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 3comments
Great skies and sunsets at Arisaig during a short Sea Kayak trip over the weekend. What a fantastic area.
There are more pics here on Facebook (might be restricted if clicking from an East Lothian PC!)
We did 2 trips. One trip around Loch Sunart with a wild camp on the Isle of Ornosay. This was fantastic we saw, sea-otters, seals and porpoises as well as experiencing great conditions..oh yeah and midge. Also a day trip (decided to come ashore after a poor weather forecast) off Arisaig on Loch nan Ceall. We camped further up the road that night and wow what a sunset. As you can imagine everybody and their dug was out with a camera! Looking forward to our next trip back there. We had intended to paddle on Loch Ailort with a camp on Ardnish. It will have to wait until next time.
All kinds of weather July 24, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 2comments
Just back from Pyrenees and hope to post some pictures soon. We had a fantastic time walking from St John Pied de Port to Gourette via the GR10 and the HRP. Fantastic Journey. We experienced all kinds of weather, blistering sun, hail, rain, snow, wind, fog at a variety of different altitudes. Fantastic panoramas and amazing countryside. I quite enjoyed the cheese and wine too! We finished it off with a couple of days in Biarritz via Pau. Certainly looking forward to a return journey to do some more of the route. We did 12 days of walking in total (it takes around 55 to do the whole route). will post a link when I get time.
Off to the Pyrenees, Au-revoir.. June 27, 2008
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We are trying to pack for the Pyrenees. How hot how cold? Tent and stove? or try and make it to the refuge? No doubt it will all come together in the next few hours before we set off via Bristol (two Bristol trips in a week!). Looking forward to experiencing the food in the area i.e. Fromage de brebis, Poulet Basquaise, Piperade & Boudin.
Just how far we will travel in the time we are there we are not sure as we hope to be distracted by festivals, food and wine, in no particular order. If we can scale some of the peaks via the HRP great , however we should be walking from the Atlantic western side starting at St. Jean Pied De Port ( Thanks to Huberta at Esprit du Chemin for setting us up with our first nights accommodation on short notice!) and finishing in the Central Pyrenees or beyond..?
5 Day Outdoor Learning residential for all pupils? June 23, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 3comments
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7411997.stm
As per the above video on the BBC , “The Scottish Conservatives have called for all teenagers to be given the right to outdoor education, such as climbing, hiking, sailing and abseiling. They want pupils between the age of 11 and 15 to have access to a one-week residential course. The Tories say 53,000 youngsters a year would be eligible - and the £8.5m it would cost could come from government and private donors. Teachers’ leaders said there would be a risk of accidents and legal action. Early signs suggest the scheme may win cross-party support”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We want the opportunities for young people to participate in a range of outdoor education.
“The draft experiences and outcomes for Curriculum for Excellence which have been released over the course of this school year contain rich opportunities for schools to use outdoor education and outdoor learning to achieve the outcomes sought.
“We are setting up strategic advisory group to explore creative ways of delivering outdoor education, sharing good examples across the country and encouraging schools to provide more outdoor education opportunities.”
I wonder if East Lothian Outdoor Education could help influence the draft outcomes and even join the strategic advisory group? Surely there is a need for more sustainable integration of outdoor learning than this headline grabbing strategy?
Wingsuit - East Lothian new activity? June 12, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 4comments
Not sure if this could be achieved jumping of Traprain Law. But really fancy a go.
New Transport #2 June 1, 2008
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After a quick session at the lagoons to make sure I could roll it, we had a late afternoon/early evening paddle between Dunbar East Beach and Barns Ness. what a fantastic evening! Saturday really was a great summers day. A little bit of swell as the tide turned but the new sea-kayak had it’s maiden voyage. I am so looking forward to travelling the whole of the East Lothian coastline. It will be great to see this amazing county from a different perspective.
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Acknowledging Acheivement Award (Through Adventure) May 10, 2008
Posted by Bill in : A Curriculum for Excellence, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Dunbar Grammar School, Outdoor Learning, podcast , 1 comment so far
This clip is from a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh trip with Dunbar Grammar School. The pupils did eventually complete the pyramid through good communication and teamwork. You can hear some of their thoughts on the award in the podcast below.
During the trip I got chatting with one of the staff who are launching a new idea which aligns their outdoor education aims with the Curriculum for Excellence. As I have said before I believe that C for E is a gift for outdoor education and many of the aims of the C for E are already embedded within outdoor learning. Mr King pointed out that the award is called A3 or A cubed. The Acknowledging Achievement Award.
I have suggested renaming it A4 as It ties there are four capacities in the Curriculum for Excellence and the name could benefit from one more word, Adventure! The school aims to use the award at the forthcoming Nethy Bridge trip for S1 pupils. It will allow pupils to make direct links with adventure and outdoor learning with the capacities of the curriculum for excellence e.g.. allowing them to demonstrate positive teamwork, respect for the environment and realise their own expectations. Although this only scratches the surface of the potential use of this tool. I look forward to seeing how it all works out next weekend.
Loch Ericht Canoe Trip May 10, 2008
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A great weekend paddling on Loch Ericht over the May Bank Holiday. Windy conditions on day one and wind and rain on day two meant we didn’t cover the whole loch but fantastic conditions on day 3. An amazing contrast of weather, the Loch was windswept then like glass. Luckily on day 3 we could sail back for an hour of the journey giving an easy finish. The settled weather at the beginning of day three also gave us some stunning views. You can see the rest of the images by clicking the link below.
GR10 and HRP Pyrenees Walking Routes April 28, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 3comments
We have been starting to plan a route out in the Pyrenees taking in some of the GR10 coast to coast route and the HRP. Can’t quite decide which section to do but hope to do a mix of each route over three weeks during the sumer break. Should be good from some of the guides I have been reading. I am particularly looking forward to the food and some fantastic bivouac spots! I haven’t been out there for a few years. Last visit was on mountain bikes so will be interesting to visit a couple of places that I know on foot. Look forward to also taking in some of the higher peaks.
It’s been useful to use google earth along with a guidebook to map out the route. I hope to fill in the map with photos and route descriptions once we have actually done it. As you can see we intend to walk from the West edge of the Pyrenees on the French side to the central area. Early stages of planning though.
