›“Outdoor learning experiences are often remembered for a lifetime. Integrating learning and outdoor experiences, whether through play in the immediate grounds or adventures further afield, provides relevance and depth to the curriculum in ways that are difficult to achieve indoors.” Curriculum for Excellence Through Outdoor Learning document 2010.

In today’s class we explored different apps on the iPad that could be used to create activities for outdoor learning. This allowed us to make links between outdoor learning and Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes. We carried out three different tasks using three different apps: Photo Booth, Pic Collage and QR Reader. The first task using Photo Booth involved us selecting the mirror camera option and taking pictures of landscapes, animals, natural objects and creating a symmetrical pattern with these images. We also used the Photo Booth app with the thermal camera option selected to take photos of minibeasts and look and discuss the core temperature. The Pic Collage app is also a great app to use for outdoor learning as there are so many activities that could be carried out with this app. For example, one of the activities we did involved us finding 5 different types of leaves, taking a photograph of it, putting all of the photos in a collage and labelling them. The final task that we carried out was using the QR Reader app. This activity was a Red Nose Day based ‘treasure hunt’, we had to scan the QR codes when we located the them. The code would be a question and if the correct answer for each question was selected it would then create a word related to Red Nose Day. These are all enjoyable and engaging activities that can be easily altered to suit the curricular activity that you want to focus on.

After today’s class and through reading the Curriculum for Excellence Through Outdoor Learning document 2010 I have realised there are many advantages of outdoor learning.It develops critical thinking skills therefore helping children to make links between other curricular areas. It involves children’s learning skills in areas such as communication, problem solving and working with others therefore improving their personal development. Outdoor learning promotes healthy lifestyles and can lead to lifelong recreation, such as hill walking, cycling, skiing or sailing. Furthermore, it can provide opportunities for children to develop skills to assess and manage risks. The most important factor is that it provides inclusion for all as it provides opportunities for children to use a range of skills and abilities that are not always visible in the classroom. This is because everyone’s talents lie in different areas and outdoor learning provides the opportunity for those that are not as confident in curricular areas such as maths to show their talent outside the classroom.

The use and importance of mobile devices in schools is rising significantly as these devices can offer a variety of ways for children to learn. The British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) discovered that “schools see technology such as games consoles and smartphones as playing an important role in primary- aged children’s education”. After carrying out research they found that  “While the majority of schools indicated internet access at home and at school as the most beneficial technology for pupils, three quarters identify home access to educational games consoles like Nintendo DS as being helpful to children’s educational development”. This makes learning  more enjoyable for pupils knowing they can use these devices in the classroom as well as at home.

Technology is constantly changing and advancing, therefore schools need to do the same. In today’s society it is vital for schools to keep up to date with the latest changes in technology as the pupils will most definitely be aware of these changes. This is important to ensure that children will not be bored when learning. By using these devices that they are familiar with it will make learning more enjoyable. Furthermore, children will be more likely to play these devices at home.

At first, I thought games consoles, such as Nintendo DSi’s would be a distraction to have in the classroom. However, through learning more about it in this module I have realised how much potential it has. We explored games such as Flipnote: we used this to play a game “Guess the nursery rhyme”. By using Flipnote we created a mini animated cartoon about a scene from a nursery rhyme. For example, an animation from a cow jumping over the moon from the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle”, then your partner must guess what the rhyme is. Flipnote can also be used to play a game of charades. All members of the group choose a card from the pile and have 5 minutes to create an animation to explain this. Pictochat is also a great game on the Nintendo and can be used to play a number of games. My personal favourite was “The Chase Challenge”. This game involves 3 roles, the teacher- who calls out the questions, the chaser- single person who tries to score 10 correct questions first and finally the hunted- the other members of the group. The teacher calls out 10 questions based on a particular theme such as maths, eg multiplication, the hunted must try to correctly answer 10 questions before the chaser in order to win. The camera can also be used to practice symmetry. By taking a photograph of an object, press EDIT button, then click on the MIRROR icon and create a series of symmetrical images.

Therefore through exploring these games and doing further reading on the use of games consoles in the classroom I have realised how beneficial and important technology is for learning in today’s society.