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
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 3comments
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.
It must be summer… April 28, 2008
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Got the climbing shoes out and managed a few routes at Traprain Law this weekend. That is a sure sign that it is summer. Traprain feels a little bit more polished every time. The direct start on the Great Corner felt much harder than before. Traprain is however an excellent crag. I love the view from the top of the climbs looking towards Tynnighame.
Soon to say farewell Edubuzz…. April 22, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 5comments
I have enjoyed tremendously posting on the Edubuzz site for some time now, it has helped me make links I would not have thought possible and challenged the way I have thought about teaching and working in Outdoor Learning. For a variety of reasons I have been looking at starting a blog independently now. I hope to keep the East Lothian links up and running to any new site but I wonder if anyone can advise me of a good host site for a website and purchasing domain names?
I still hope to post information about Outdoor Education in East Lothian but on a less school or group specific way. I hope that this will allow me to tackle more general issues on education, outdoor learning and training. I have also been approached by advertisers and this I feel I could not do or have on an Edubuzz site. It would also allow me to post more freely information on work I do outside the East Lothian Arena.
Any good advice from anyone on purchasing domain names and server space would be a great help.
No Edubuzz Blog format for Outdoor Education website! April 13, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 5comments
At a meeting on a Friday the OE team decided they would not change the East Lothian Outdoor Education Service website to an Edubuzz interactive format that many of the schools in East Lothian currently use. I am of course a wee bit bias as I use the Edubuzz Wordpress format already and like it, but I wonder what our users(You) think? Click on the edubuzz examples below and the check out the East Lothian Outdoor Education Site and then leave a comment please.
East Lothian Outdoor Education Service
Thanks for your comments.
Blast off at Pencaitland Rocket Launching & Problem Solving day April 10, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 1 comment so far
I enjoyed a great day today working with theP6 class at Pencaitland Primary School. There was great benefit in having a whole day with a class and using their immediate environment for activities. They worked really hard working in pairs, and small groups to produce some amazing results. A wide variety of problem solving and group activities meant that they all had a chance to get involved and there was opportunities for;
- raising self awareness
- positive self respect for others
- manage themselves and create their own active risk assessment
- make informed decisions while working with others
- communicating in different ways & apply critical thinking
- create and develop ideas independently
- have fun
- achieve success
- lead and organise
The way they organised themselves so confidently, creatively and maturely made me reflect on the previous day at the Challenge For Change Conference and the possible benefits to have leaders in East Lothian train in these sort of environments … possibly with pupils..often pupils can make the more difficult sides of leadership and management look easy!
Challenge for Change April 9, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , add a comment
I felt very privileged today to attend the Challenge for Change Conference today. Not being a manager I was a wee bit out of place but appreciated the opportunity to listen and feedback some of the comments at the workshop and plenary sessions. I think my facilitator skills need a brush up though as there was so much stuff coming out it was hard to channel it all into a few sentences, never mind right it all down!
It really brought home to me what a creative and committed work force there is within East Lothian and the fact that is acknowledged by the management team. It will be interesting to see what will result from the conference and how talk is transformed into practice, but certainly the drive its there to make things happen!
It all ran very smoothly which was down to the hard work and commitment of the organisers.
Easter Break April 4, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 2comments
Easter break has been spent working on dissertation mainly but have managed a few walks in the Southern Uplands, the Cheviot and also the Southern Cairngorms. As well as being enjoyable I hope to use them for some walks with groups in the future. Thanks to Liz Layhe from Dunbar Grammar for her brilliant book on the Donalds (Scottish Lowland Hills 610m or above) which inspired us to do some walks nearer to home. Its a great resource. Click the above link to get a copy or from Amazon.
Busman’s Holiday March 22, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 1 comment so far
We have been out and about for short walks this weekend in East Lothian (act as good recce’s for future courses) before getting down to some studying at the beginning of the week. Fantastic views from Deuchrie Dod at the back of Pressmennan Wood & Gallows Law. I would love to get more information on the naming of the hills around in East Lothian. The Ranger Team are always a good source of information, perhaps they can explain Gallows Law - does the name mean what it says?
Gallows as in hanging gallows, or is it slang for gallus - careless/ un-inhibited hill?
Scots place names offers some insight.
We had of course walked at the wood before but a detour up around the Law and to Deuchrie Dod makes a fine addition to the walk.
