Outdoor Learning

May 27th, 2010

Learning for Change

csmith

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The Scottish Government have published Learning for Change: Scotland’s Action Plan for the Second Half of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Following Learning for Our Future, published in 2006, this new publication is aimed at the next 5 years.

The document has action points for Schools, Universities and Colleges and Community Learning and Development.

Action point 10 for Schools is: “The Scottish Government and partners will promote the use of outdoor learning experiences to engage young people in sustainable development education in a meaningful and transformative way using the Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning guidance and online resources to encourage teachers to make the most of outdoor learning opportunities”.

The Government’s aim is that by 2014 people in Scotland will have developed the knowledge, understanding, skills and values to live sustainable lives.

It has been recognised that Outdoor Learning will be integral to achieving this aim. “The Scottish Government is convinced about the benefits of learning outdoors and therefore wants sustainable and progressive opportunities for all young people to participate in a range of outdoor learning experiences. Curriculum for Excellence provides a wonderful opportunity for creative use of the outdoor environment to be embedded in learning and teaching by making clear that the outdoor learning environment offers motivating, exciting, different and relevant activities from pre-school years through to college”.

The entire document http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/312576/0098842.pdf

Further information http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/susdevp/UNDESD/pupilsupport/outdoor
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/312576/0098842.pdf

May 24th, 2010

Your top tips?

rreed

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Wouldn’t it be great to read suggestions from across the country on how to take learning outside, improve practice, or inspire yourself and others?

Well, here’s your opportunity to contribute your suggestions and content!

The idea is to compile top tips, suggestions, and inspiration from across the country, all in a concise and to-the-point style. Once there is sufficient content the outdoor learning team will compile all of your input and make it available online and through Glow.

Go on, have your say. You can simply comment on this post, or send your suggestions, quotes and ideas to [email protected]

To keep things to-the-point, a maximum of 100 words is a good guide for length.

If you have access to Glow, then you can use our Glow forums to contribute too:

http://bit.ly/dB8q0a

May 24th, 2010

Early years and primary practitioners return from Norway filled with enthusiasm

ahammerton

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Members of the international professional development visit to Oslo to experience outdoor learning have been struck by the variety of different settings who regularly use the outdoors and whose children all demonstrate calm self assurance.

The group visited nurseries in urban and rural settings who approach outdoor learning in different ways, though all with the philosophy that being outdoors for extended periods of time is important for the holistic development of the child. The children were clearly healthy and resilient, and there was no evidence of any conflicts between children. Staff allowed them a great deal of time to engage individually in the nature around them, with plenty of opportunity for imaginative and creative play, cooperation and communication, and for developing balance and motor skills. It was also refreshing to see a number of male teachers and assistants in the nursery settings visited. Some of the nurseries ensured that their time was spent almost wholly outdoors, only going into their small indoor areas with stoves in the coldest weather, while others adopted the view that a balance of indoor and outdoor learning allowed greater focus on fine motor skills and preparation for school. All believed in and provided for at least 2 to 3 hours outdoors each day.

The design of the Norwegian curriculum, in some ways quite similar to Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, gives teachers the freedom and support to be creative in how they deliver the content and tasks covered in the guidelines. With a recognition that play is valuable and important in its own right, and a culture which values the outdoor life, the risk-benefit balance appears to be very healthy. Visits to Oslo University informed the group about the ongoing research into, and support provided for, outdoor learning, and we were given an insight into the focus on outdoor learning provided at initial training with students spending a whole semester’s study on aspects of outdoor learning.

Members of the group have returned with many inspiring ideas to put into practice, and are reassured that opportunities for regular and frequent outdoor learning can easily be provided with little or no cost in their own settings and with huge potential for drawing in expertise and support from the local community.

May 19th, 2010

Superb outdoor learning in Oslo - professional study visitors are impressed.

ahammerton

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A 13-strong group of early years and primary staff countered many travel problems to arrive in Oslo ready to experience for themselves the progressive outdoor learning on offer.

A packed first day found us visiting pupils aged 6 calmly going about language and literacy activities and cooperating on the challenge of building a structure during their day of lessons in the local woodland. Blakstad school in a suburb of Oslo plans for a full day in this outdoor classroom for every pupil once a week in every weather all through the year, and the pupils drive the learning with enthusiasm. Visits to two private kindergartens (catering for 2 to 6 year olds) demonstrated the self confidence, independence and enquiring minds developed in the pupils. The children were happily climbing and swinging, cooperating and discussing while cooking sweet breads over the fire or whittling wood with a knife, and then organsied their own backpacks ready to walk back to their beautiful and functional purpose-built nursery building at the end of their day. (see some photos of their grounds and activities on the Norwegian website).

With some ‘naturbarnehager’ or nature kindergartens taking pupils out one day every week, and others taking a group for five consecutive full days once every three weeks, these children demonstrate healthy, happy and resilient outlooks. Social skills and decision making processes are also well honed and the Scottish visitors have been thoroughly motivated and inspired to develop their own ambitious outdoor learning plans. These plans are likely to be implemented, as this is a group of very determined people to overcome the many twists and turns, trials and tribulations of the journey here battling volcanic ash clouds, industrial action and multiple last minute changes of travel plans!

A very warm reception was also had at the education offices in Asker municipality where a comparison of policies, implementation and support through networks was elicited through discussions over a typical Norwegian lunch. Look out for further posts on the blog!

May 18th, 2010

Join the great Exhibition Mission!

rreed

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Turn your school grounds into a public art gallery from 7^th to 11^th June

Here’s what you need to know from Grounds for Learning:

“Every year around 8,000 schools and early years settings get involved in National School Grounds Week. This year we’re encouraging schools to join us on an Exhibition Mission to share the benefits of outdoor learning by turning their grounds into art galleries.

Our aim is to get as many UK schools as possible to pick a project, exhibit their work and temporarily change their grounds into a public art display. We’re also encouraging participating schools & settings to open their ‘Gallery in the Grounds’ to parents and the wider community.

The Exhibition Mission will help schools celebrate & create art that is not limited by the constraints of the classroom walls, experimenting with large scale models, sculptures, messy materials, large sketches, and art made from natural materials, whilst also creating a bright outdoor space around your school.

We’ll provide a fun and challenging range of gallery ideas and resources to get children of all ages outdoors and active.

National School Grounds Week is free for every school and early years setting in the UK.

What should I do next?

To register for your FREE resource pack click HERE“

May 12th, 2010

Norway study visit for Early Years and Primary

ahammerton

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Next week sees 15 education professionals from Early Years and Primary sectors across Scotland setting off to see Oslo’s outdoor learning in practice.
The SCIPD study visit (www.ltscotland.org.uk/internationaleducation/scipdvisits/aims.asp) takes teachers to international locations to compare educational policy and practice, in this instance the focus being outdoor learning. Norway have valued the benefits of outdoor learning for some time and this will be a great opportunity for the group members to share practice and exchange ideas. Look out for updates from Norway next week!