Learning for Our Future
The Scottish Executive have produced Scotland's First Action Plan for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, it contains several references to Outdoor Education and the curriculum as printed below;
21. A key purpose of the curriculum review will be to unify the curriculum providing improved and more coherent opportunities for teachers to use cross-cutting elements such as education for citizenship, environmental education, outdoor education, international education and education for the global perspective, as vehicles for learning across curricular areas and subjects.
32. There are close connections between these two approaches and they can add value to each other by connecting up
- health benefits of walking/cycling with environmental benefits of travel choices and travel planning as a skill for life
- designing the estate for environmental impact and health promotion
linking healthy eating with sustainable food procurement
- prioritising places to play and enjoy quiet time over car parking
- outdoor education - mental and physical health benefits, learning about the environment.
Outdoor education
35. Making the most of learning outdoors can be a very effective way of developing a whole school approach. It can link and strengthen different strands of what can seem like competing agendas.
36. Outdoor education is a whole school approach which forms a valuable component of a rounded and rich educational experience. It provides a very important setting for young people to discover more about themselves, to develop environmental awareness and to engage in the sustainability debate. Young people benefit from regular opportunities to learn in a natural setting, to build up familiarity with a natural place close to home and to relate theory to reality on the ground. SNH is preparing a web-based site directory of places for schools to visit for learning across Scotland to make this easier.
37. The Executive is keen to raise the profile of outdoor education in Scotland by developing outdoor education for all young people. It is recognised that education in the outdoors can contribute to the delivery of the four key purposes of education, in particular developing citizenship through sustainable environmental studies and national heritage awareness. Learning and Teaching Scotland are taking forward this work with a new development programme Outdoor Connections and have appointed a national development officer to identify and disseminate good practice and encourage authorities to review and enhance provision. Some examples of what can be achieved by learning outdoors are included in the annex.
100. The underlying principle is to build on the existing skill set of participants and encourage them to 'link their thinking' and look at what they do differently. Within the Scottish Executive for example, policy makers will be encouraged to explore connections between their areas and search for the sustainable development 'wins'. At a more hands-on level, youth and outdoor workers involved with John Muir Trust recognise that they already spend a lot of time working outdoors but are not necessarily making the most of the learning opportunities that natural classroom presents. Making connections between programmes - building in skills or employability to conservation work; looking at environmental issues as part of outdoor education programmes - can build skills and capacity, strengthen partnership working, and engender commitment and enthusiasm among participants.
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Learning Teaching Scotland
The role of LTS is to;
- provide independent advice to Scottish Ministers
- give direction and provide support to education practitioners
- improve the quality of education in Scotland
- encourage the creative and effective use of ICT in education
The Learning and Teaching Scotland web site, provides resources and advice for teachers, school managers and others involved in education.
Well worth a visit are the 'Taking Learning Outdoors' pages.
Outdoor Connections Development Programme
In late 2004 the Minister for Education and Young People, Peter Peacock, requested that a development programme on outdoor education should be taken forward. SEED invited LT Scotland to undertake this task.
The development programme, Outdoor Connections, is designed to make outdoor connections across a range of current and emerging education priorities and policies, such as;
- A Curriculum for Excellence
- Health Promoting Schools
- Active Schools
- Determined to Succeed
- Education for Citizenship
- Education for Sustainable Development.
In addition to making connections between policy, programmes and people, year 1 will develop research into the current state of outdoor education in Scotland and year 2 will develop and disseminate resources.
The aim is to continue to improve the quality of learning experiences through various and diverse outdoor programmes and approaches and to secure a sustainable status for outdoor education as part of overall education and lifelong learning provision.
The two-year programme is sponsored by the Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED). It will be implemented by a Development Officer based at and managed by Learning and Teaching Scotland and supported by a Management Group of SEED, LT Scotland and HMIE and a Programme Advisory Group.
The Advisory Group represents a range of interests from local authority, voluntary and commercial outdoor education providers, teachers, education directorate, higher education institutions, the Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education and the Institute for Outdoor Learning.
Use the Starter Kit to examine the extent to which your outdoor learning providers present practices and policies match the values, purposes and principles of A Curriculum for Excellence.
English documents from Countryside Access
Despite the access laws and the school curriculum being different the following documents are a good example of how activities and the curriculum can be linked.
An Activity Guide for Primary School Teachers
An Activity Guide for Secondary School Teachers
An Activity Guide for Voluntary Group Leaders
Careers in Outdoor Education / Outdoor Learning
The Institute for Outdoor Learning has a section re jobs available on its web site.
They also produce;
Guide to a Career in Outdoor Learning by IOL
Everything you should know before applying for that college place or job offer - make sure you have chosen the right route for you. This guide covers all aspects of career development in outdoor education, development training and recreation. It is a must for anyone interested in studying or working, paid or voluntary, in this broad and increasingly popular area. It gives information on 'a day in the life of...' a variety of different jobs so you understand expected job roles, work loads and pay scales. Explains different entry points into the profession - educational and work based and has a useful address section. Essential reading. Every school and Connexions centre should have a copy to hand.
1-898555-06-0, IOL, 2003
Price: £8.50
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