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
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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.
Slacklining - New Activity for East Lothian? March 12, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning, Slacklining , 10comments
I have been reading Dave Macleod’s climbing blog and came across this post on slacklining. Wasn’t sure what it was. Dave’s blog took me to another link and above is the video. Perhaps this could be used for a staff challenge? maybe not!
Not exiting enough? How about this one.
The Power of Learning March 2, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , add a commentAs part of my research to choose an appropriate diagnostic tool for measuring whether East Lothian education exhibits the key elements of Learning Organisations I have been trawling through a huge pile of articles and books searching for the ideal tool. Today I was reading The Power of Learning(1994) by Andrew Mayo and Elizabeth Lank, the questionnaire they use is a bit too profound and comprehensive (Too many questions!!) for my use but what a belter of a read. I love their section on the career management process and sharing learning.. cant put it down, easy to use language and clear concise models.
Enquire Conference - Achieving Excellence with Additional Support February 28, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 2comments
I attended and presented (using the above model as a framework- click for all the slides) at one of the break-out sessions today at the above conference run by Enquire , The Scottish Advice Service for additional Support for Learning. Impressive presentations throughout the day. The pupils presentations were excellent and I particularly enjoyed the North Ayrshire presentation on the inclusive club run by pupils within a school - very powerful. A lot to learn from all involved including the post event conversations
One of the keynote speakers was Dr Carol Craig, again very powerful. I may just have to get hold of her book; Creating Confidence: a handbook for professionals working with young people.
Thanks again to Gavin for inviting me to talk and Sean and Colin for being so easy to present with on our session “Risky Business” - which was fully booked out.
Can East Lothian Schools be Learning Organisations? February 18, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Dissertation, Learning Organisations , 2comments
I have been taking some leave to get some work done on my MSc dissertation. I have finally put finishing touches on proposal and have been working on the methodology for the study . During my reading i have noted that many works consider that schools are “institutions of learning” however they are often “incapable of innovation”(Senge) due to structural barriers and are unable to become learning organisations themselves. As an EL education employee you may disagree..
What I hope to do is (In summary);
” The author intends to in this study examine and identify the key characteristics of learning organisations and select an appropriate diagnostic tool to collect data within the author’s organisation (Scottish Local Education Authority) and by further analysis examine the question of whether educational establishments can become learning organisations. The findings will also consider the application of the selected diagnostic tool in terms of it’s potential to support Outdoor Management Development Courses”
I intend to use a diagnostic tool in the form of a questionnaire which will give holistic data on where the organisation (East Lothian Education) measures up on some of the key traits of learning organisations. The sampling will be on purposive basis i.e. non probability and I intend to the questionnaire out to a;
- Secondary School
- Primary School
- Education support staff and management (JMH)
I realise it will be with school or department approval and will of course keep the questionnaire to a manageable form and hopefully get it in staff in trays at an appropriate time - I realise the timing will be unique for all of the above.
The data could prove to be useful for future training and development within East Lothian as well as for my own aim in identifying whether educational establishments can become learning organisations and whether findings could support content on OMD style courses. It may also assist helping shape future revolutions / visions of EL Education?
Although I have approached in principal with Education Management it will be up to the schools as to whether they will allow me to distribute the survey. I have had one or two agree on principal but would welcome any volunteer schools.
IS YOUR SCHOOL A LEARNING ORGANISATION?
Uk Via Ferrata in The Lake District February 7, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 2comments
Whatever your thoughts on the activity in terms of outdoor learning the clip is quite interesting.
Is it outdoor education?
Parliamentary Debate - Scottish Outdoor Education. February 4, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , 5comments
“Outdoor learning is not just something that is done in five special days of schooling; it should be part of where and how children and young people learn on a day-to-day basis”
Maureen Watt - Minister for Schools & Skills.
Below are links to last weeks debate in the Scottish Parliament on the below motion that the above quotes are taken from. Once again it seems there is great enthusiasm for the delivery of outdoor learning in Scotland, but the continuity of need and supply on the ground prompted this comment;
“The extraordinary thing is that, in the 1970s and 1980s, there were more young people in education and less was spent on it but we still found the money for outdoor education. Now, we have fewer pupils, more money, but no outdoor education”
Robin Harper MSP.
More details below but definitely some opportunities here for SAPOE members to provide further briefing to better inform a positive future debate.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes the vital contribution that taking part in extra-curricular activities makes in developing our young people; notes that extra-curricular programmes help our young people to learn new skills, to enjoy new responsibility, to appreciate the work of other people and to learn about leadership; notes the success of projects such as Crieff High School’s Community Awareness Project, and considers that, in an age when too many of our young people are in the headlines for the wrong reasons and when there are increasing concerns about school discipline and the numbers of youngsters involved in incidents of antisocial behaviour, extra-curricular activities in schools and five days outdoor education for every school pupil in Scotland should be supported.
