Outdoor learning, used in a range of ways, will enrich the curriculum and make learning fun, meaningful and relevant for children and young people. Outdoor learning can deliver sustainable development education through initiatives such as working to improve biodiversity in the school grounds, visiting the local woods, exploring and engaging with the local community and developing a school travel plan.
Focus of my enquiry is to find out the role of outdoor education in raising achievement and how assessment can be applied to learning outside the classroom?
My Question
- How can learning outdoors enhance and deepen learning within curriculum areas of numeracy and literacy.
Rachnna…really love Outdoor and had the privilege of achieving Lead Teacher in Outdoor Education Accreditation last Session. I truly believe in all that you`ve posted and children of all ages and abilities do enjoy the freedom of the outdoors within a structured setting.I did have to overcome quite a lot of scepticism from staff and parents but thankfully a supportive headteacher and a solid rationale saw me and the children through.There a tons of activities available especially in Learning Through Landscapes where Matt Robinson is a genius.Good lck and well done for taking on this Challenge and if there`s anything I can do remembering that my school is just down the hill from yours.
I agree Christine there is quite a lot of scepticism from teachers. Teachers are overloaded with day to day job responsibilities and outdoor learning is considered as extra work by most of the teachers which is not true. Following our recent Eco-school meeting we are planning to set up an Eco-Town. In January my plan was to approach local primary school, neighbours and local businesses. We already have few members from local town working groups, still expanding on it. Luckily our headteacher is also very supportive and takes interest in outdoor education. It will be great in case your school becomes a part of our Eco-Town.We can discuss the idea of on phone and I can visit your school early next year.
Thanks for the heads up on Learning Through Landscapes, Christine! I love that website and I think it will help me to do more outdoors. Had you heard of it, Rachna?
I feel that your focus might be too broad at the moment, Rachna. You are looking at literacy attainment, numeracy attainment and assessment. (Is it assessment of literacy and numeracy, or confidence/HWB as well?) Your plan might help with the focus, but I think you should pick either literacy or numeracy and keep any assessment as simple as possible at this stage (depending on what forms of assessment are already available to you.) You also mention a broad range of outdoor learning activities and it would help if that could be narrowed down to one specific project or topic area for the purpose of the enquiry. Let me know what you think. Your enquiry can always continue to develop into more areas beyond Easter.
Good Morning Mrs Andrew
I will narrow down my focus and it will be numeracy attainment through outdoor education. Recently I had a meeting with Maths department to discuss the E’S AND O’s which can be mastered in the outdoor. Skills as confidence and solving problems as a part of team are the by-products of outdoor education. We were introduced to Learning through landscape website on my John Muir training couple of years before and I still use the ideas for my S3 eco elective group.