Author: billstephen

Discover Outdoor Learning

billstephen Bill Stephen, Events, Learning and Teaching, Outdoor Learning
discover-orienteering
Click here for Session Dates, Times & how to book.

In addition to our Outdoor Learning programmes arranged directly with schools,  this year we will be running again our successful and amazingly popular Discover Outdoor Leaning days aimed at Primary schools to encourage more of our classes to learn outdoors. Last year an amazing 1350 Midlothian pupils attended these sessions, and many (500+) progressed on to attend our  Orienteering festival and Biking festival)

Our Discover Outdoor Learning Sessions this year are aimed at ;

The information booklet available here (Or click on the picture)  gives all the details you need to book and attend as well as links to further information regarding curriculum links and further participation as well as  the;

  • Midlothian Orienteering Festival 2017
  • Midlothian Mountain Biking Festival 2017

discover-bikingPlease contact the named Outdoor Learning Teacher as per the booklet if you wish to arrange attendance at one of these popular advertised sessions.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2016-17 year for some exciting Discover Outdoor Learning Days.

Midlothian Schools Italian Snowsports Trip Easter 2017 Ski Aosta 2017

billstephen Bill Stephen, Outdoor Learning, Ski

Outdoor Learning – Midlothian Schools Italian Snowsports Trip Easter 2017 Ski Aosta 2017

On Saturday 1st April 2017 The Outdoor Learning service will be leaving for the AOSTA valley in Northern Italy.

Click on image for poster
Click on image for poster

The visit using INTERSKI  and qualified Midlothian leaders and volunteers includes 6 days of snowsports and includes 4 hours of instruction per day, equipment hire, transport, half board accommodation & snack lunch. Evening activities and insurance are also included

Aimed at our Primary and Secondary pupils this visit is an excellent opportunity for those pupils wishing to increase their skiing skills that they may have experienced through the after school, and schools ski programmes through active Schools and Midlothian Ski centre at Hillend

There are still a number of limited spaces available. For more details on the visit and how to get involved you can download the ski visit brochure below that gives wider information on the visit and also the poster if you wish to advertise within your school

Please contact Bill Stephen on 01968 664043  or email william.stephen@midlothian.gov.uk if you are interested in joining us.

Information brochure on Ski Aosta 2017
Click on image for Information brochure on Ski Aosta 2017

We will be hosting an information evening for those already booked and others interested in joining this amazing opportunity on the 5th October 2016 at 7pm at Penicuik High School – Come and join us and find out more.

Lasswade High School – 2016 S6 Outdoor Learning Challenge winners

billstephen Events, Outdoor Learning, Uncategorized

Congratulations to all the competing teams from the Midlothian Secondary Schools at the 2016 S6 Outdoor Learning Challenge. Incredibly close scores in the challenge this year. Lasswade High led the scores and also were successful in the final team challenge.


This years winners – Lasswade High School.IMG_20160323_143704932_HDR-1

School Challenge Scores
Lasswade High School 28
St David’s RC High School 27
Beeslack Community High School 25
Newbattle Community High School 23
Dalkeith High School 21

Navigating around the Vogrie Estate the teams completed a range of problem solving and team challenges.

Teams are scored on aspects of teamwork and successful task completion with high challenge scores gaining an advantage on the final challenge.

IMG_20160323_102550365-1The challenges are designed to encourage diverse thinking, facilitate effective leadership and encourage group collaboration to solve problems. Curriculum links embedded in the challenges add to the mix of learning.

All the teams showed amazing resiliance and character and visible learning was evident throughout the event.

We are looking forward to next event already – and as mentioned at the challenge – Good luck to all our S6 Learners in the coming busy months.

Thanks again to all the staff from our Secondary Schools who enable this event to happen and a support from Vogrie Country Park and the Active Schools Team

 

MSc Student Surveys for Outdoor Learning Success

billstephen Outdoor Learning

Hi, I am a MSc  student studying Outdoor Environmental and sustainability education at Edinburgh University.

Firelighting in discover bushcraft class, Vogrie park.

 

For the past month I have had the pleasure of joining the Midlothian Outdoor learning service as a placement student gaining valuable experience working with a professional outfit. I have been hiking in the Pentland hills on the john Muir awards, Climbing at Ratho, and helped teach bush craft at Vogrie park.

I have had such a great time it hardly feels like work (cleaning all the gear after felt a little bit like work!). The team has really taken me under their collective wing and I have learned a great deal from these talented educators.

The large age range and learning abilities the service teaches has given me a great deal of valuable experience.

As part of my placement work I was asked to create a feedback system to help the service ensure they are continuing to deliver the best of educational outcomes and create the friendly atmosphere they are famous for. The system uses an Ipad connected  to an online quiz/survey website . We created a virtual classroom which is accessed by a code the student types in. The questions are designed to check that the service is achieving the learning outcomes that connect to what the students are learning in the school’s curriculum.

John Muir Award -Penicuik High School S1 class at Bonaly reservoir
John Muir Award -Penicuik High School S1 class at Bonaly reservoir

This connection of the two styles of learning is the huge difference between outdoor learning and a nice day out. it is very important to the service that they can monitor outcomes.

So if you see an Ipad passed around after a day out, it is just an anonymous feedback system which helps the service provide the best service they can.

kids! –  Cheers – Steve Allen

 

 

How good are our visits and residentials?

billstephen CLPL, Midlothian Outdoor Learning Network, midvisits, offsite safety management, Uncategorized

With the implementation of the new online Midvisits/EVOLVE system offsite visits planning, monitoring and approvals numbers are more visible, trackable to learning aims and outcomes & increasing. The latest approved visit numbers using the new system can be seen in graph above for the 2015-16 school period*

It’s amazing to see so many trips taking place and using new system from our Schools in Midlothian and establishments but how good are they? – using the new Midvisits/Evolver’s system to track and monitor learning outcomes to visits can be used to make sure you plan brilliant visits and maximise the impacts and benefits that visits and residential can bring including;

  • Intensity of experience
  • A new context for relationships
  • Different and varied opportunities to experience success
  • New ways of learning

(Brilliant residentials and their impact on children young people and schools, making the case for high quality residential learning – 2015 Paul Hamlyn Foundation)

It’s understood that visits and residential experiences can have an impact on attainment but as visit leaders often more awareness is needed in making clear links on “resilience, confidence, and grit” and the current focus nationally on character education.

Latest training opportunities – click on hyperlinks below for more information;

john-muir-trust-Learning Away: Making the case for high-quality residential learning

Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 4-6pm, Monday 21st March

Chris Loynes: Educational advisor on the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Learning Away Initiative

The  free evening talk is hosted by John Muir Trust & Education Scotland. – click on the link above to book a place

shetlers jpeg

 

Training is also available locally with the outdoor learning service to support and promote these links including some new courses for those leading visits from Midlothian establishments to help you plan effective, safe and relevant visits e.g.

Visit Leader Training – for those planning leading and evaluating visits

Visit Coordinator Training – for those approving and coordinating visits within establishments

Midvisits – getting the most out of the EVOLVE/ Midvisits system – workshops using and discovering additional features within Midvisits.