Bill Stephen

Ski Aosta 2017 – “more than just a ski trip”

billstephen Bill Stephen, Outdoor Learning

A fantastic Aosta ski visit this Easter with a range of school age learners and adults that gave our residential visit a community engagement and learning edge.

Our group skiing in Pila, Aosta – great weather with the Matterhorn in the distance- an amazing environment to develop & learn in.

A huge thank you to all the helpers and volunteers involved and of course couldn’t happen without the years of dedication to this visit by Bruce Fraser formerly of Lifelong Learning who has now retired.

The value of these educational visits should not be underestimated. Visible Learning was evident throughout , not just with the physical skills involved in skiing but I witnessed the amazing resilience, confidence, communication, support, positive behaviours and of course an overall sense of fun that our young Midlothian people exhibited.

This Relational Schools study outlines the benefits of ski trips – click on image for more on the research

All this going on while pupils are immersed in the amazing culture, language and history in the stunning mountain environment of the Aosta Valley. Real opportunities for “character development”.

Personal qualities are among the SAL’s (significant aspects of learning ) visible during alpine skiing – click on image for more curriculum links

It was great also to see during the visit some of our ex Midlothian skiers working in Italy, achieving positive destinations!  The Outdoor learning team are delighted we could enable this visit and excited about the future and looking forward to building our next ski visit, to build on the skills of our young people.

Again thanks to all our Midlothian pupils and learners who made this such a brilliant residential and a visible success. We can’t wait to work with you all again.

Watch this space for further details on our next Ski & Achieve residential visit.

 

Lasswade PAVE Group -Outdoor Learning Success

billstephen Bill Stephen, Curriculum For Excellence, Outdoor Learning
Sailing Canoes on the Whittader

We’ve been working hard with the PAVE, LLE team &  pupil groups on a variety of awards to support their NC vocational units including NC personal and Vocational Skills level 4. Its been a pleasure to support them to achieve their NICAS (National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme) foundation climber + and their SCA (Scottish Canoeing Association) Star awards as part of their development.

Success with NICAS Awards Level 1

As always great  to work with the staff at PAVE and support staff at Lasswade High School

We’ve witnessed some amazing visible learning moments throughout the course using the NICAS syllabus  climbing at Ratho EICA and the SCA 1 star syllabus paddling in a variety of locations and carrying out varying lengths of journeys (and much more paddling and climbing  beyond the award criteria too) as both physical skills and growth mind-set development are evident.

Developing movement and cognitive skills using poling techniques

 

Using MOLE’s to record and check outcomes and understanding

We’ve also used MOLE’s (Midlothian Outdoor Online Learning Environment) to record course outcomes and some wider learning back in the class.

 

We wish the group every success and continued successful attainment and pathways in the future.

 

 

 

2017 S6 Outdoor Learning Challenge

billstephen Bill Stephen, Curriculum For Excellence, Events, Outdoor Learning

IMAG0987The Outdoor Learning Challenge for S6 teams from all Secondary Schools will be held at Vogrie Country park on  the 29th  March 2017

As always an exiting that is a mixture of team  and journeying skills around the estate. Teams of 6 from all Secondary Schools can compete to win this years trophy in this amazing Outdoor Learning experience.

To register a team for the 2017 S6 Challenge – email outdoorlearning@midlothian.gov.uk

Information for DHT/S6 Year Heads click here

Click here for poster for S6 Pupils

Click here for team registration form

We will send out further information nearer this years  event. You can see images and results for last years event by clicking here

 Curriculum for Excellence & the S6 Challenge

The challenge enables teams to work effectively to achieve success on the varied challenges set up around the Vogrie Estate through exploration and discovery.

As well as the wider capacities of the CfE in encouraging effective contributions from all team members to guarantee success.This event contributes too many curriculum subject areas including Health and Wellbeing outcomes e.g;

Movement skills, competencies and concepts (HWB 21-22a), Cooperation and competition(HWB 23a)  and evaluating and appreciating (HWB 24a) These events are physical and mental challenges which naturally encourage  physical competencies and fitness but are also designed to  develop;

Cognitive skills  e.g. decision making, problem solving and creativity , concentration and develop Personal Qualities, i.e. motivation, leadership, communication, trust respect, tolerance and resilience.

Details for booking your team are above and have been  sent out to S6 coordinators , however you can also contact the team to declare interest now! don’t miss out on this exicting event.

Geology Days Rock for P7 (and some help from MOLE’s too)

billstephen Bill Stephen, Curriculum For Excellence, Outdoor Learning
Ancient Inhabitants
Ancient Inhabitants

We’ve had great few days out and about recently with Danderhall P7 classes . Our walks in the Pentland Hills  included some Geology tasks.  As well as our generic outcomes for Outdoor Learning we looked at wider related learning outcomes that linked in with Earth Science working back in the class using M.O.L.E’s. “Midlothian Outdoor/Online Learning  Environment ” to burrow in (get it !?) & review knowledge from the daygeology-learning-outcome-1

 

 

group-and-moles
One of the P7 Groups and one of the online knowledge review questions (MOLE’s)

Pupils undertook a journey through geological time and became geology detectives to view the landscape and learn about earth science and the Pentland Hills Geological history.

geology-outcome-2

The online environment (M.O.L.E.) allows pupils to  review the learning outcomes covered  back in the classroom.  This tool allows us to go beyond some of the “surface learning” as part of the “micro teaching session”and dig deeper to stimulate further class  discussion on the aspects of formative learning covered in the day. It can also help gather some further useful feedback from pupils and their level of engagement . These groups certainly seemed to have a good experience and judging by the knowledge review (14 questions)  some pretty successful results. Thanks for  great days out Danderhall P7 & we look forward to seeing all the results once completed.

You can access more information about our generic Outdoor Learning Plan by clicking here . Please get in touch if you want to use MOLE’s to review knowledge for your Outdoor Learning Day /Programme back in the classroom.geology-outcome-3

 

 

 

CLPL news – Introduction to Taking learning Outdoors (Primary)

billstephen Bill Stephen, Curriculum For Excellence, Learning and Teaching, Outdoor Learning

bushcraft-iconThe Introduction to Taking Learning Outdoors  (Primary) course will take place at Hawthornden Primary school on INSET day May 22nd 2017.

This course is a fantastic opportunity for primary staff who are looking to take their learning outdoors. Staff, with little or no experience of taking groups of children and young people to learn outdoors, are encouraged to take an introductory training course aimed at the age group with whom you work.

Training will give staff the confidence and basic skills to undertake outdoor learning in school/centre grounds and other local areas and develop ideas for outdoor learning.

Training is 6 hours, delivered in one day , and includes a mix of theory, practical(some time outdoors!) and discussion.

We are  hoping to get folks signed up early as this will be a well subscribed course – there is no cost – just bring yourself along and start getting outdoors and making learning connections across the curriculum areas. We will be inviting teachers to share some of their outdoor learning approaches and start to build strategy for outdoor learning.Staff training

Tutors (Rob Heasman –  Teacher – Hawthornden PS & Bill Stephen PT Outdoor Learning) will guide you through this course developed by Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education & Education Scotland.

Where : Hawthornden Primary School

What time : 0900-1600

What to Bring : Lunch, Outdoor Clothing & Rucksack/Backpack (for outdoor walk session)

Costs: free to all Midlothian Council Primary Staff.

How to Book – on learnPro or by completing the booking form at link here and email to outdoorlearning@midlothian.gov.uk