IDEAS FOR DEVELOPING YOUR OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM YEARS 7

							    IDEAS FOR DEVELOPING
       YOUR OUTDOOR
     EDUCATION PROGRAM
         YEARS 7 - 10

                   Andrew Potter
                    Ian Webster
                    Mark Dingle

V I CT O R IAN O U T D O O R E D U CAT I O N AS S O C IAT I O N
Question…
 What is the primary connection between
 reality television programs and outdoor
 education?
Answer…
 They are both about creating
 experiences

    “It is the sin of the soul to force young people into
 opinions -indoctrination is of the devil - but it is culpable
    neglect not to impel young people into experiences.”
                                                  Kurt Hahn
Context
   Curriculum Contexts:
    • CSF II
    • Victorian Essential Learning Standards
   School Context
    • Student Profile
    • Teacher Experience
   Resources – Practical Program Ideas
Seven Needs for Young
Adolescents
1.   Independence
2.   Responsibility
3.   Confidence
4.   Sense of identity and acceptance
5.   Abstract thinking
6.   Social and political awareness
7.   Support from adults
                       NSW Dept Education “Linkages Project”
Needs of Young Australian
Adolescents
1.   Identity
2.   Relationships
3.   Purpose
4.   Empowerment
5.   Success
6.   Rigour
7.   Safety
                       Robyn Barret, 1998
CSF II
   Health & Physical Education
    • Self & Relationships
    • Movement & Physical Activity
   SOSE
    • Geography
   The Arts
    • Visual Communication
Victorian Essential Learning
Standards
   Core Curriculum
   Skills, Values and Attributes
    • Communication Skills
    • Thinking Skills
    • Social Skills
       • Personal Development
    • Cultural Values
    • Organisational Skills
Connecting the Issues of Middle
Schooling with Outdoor Education 1

   Students require meaningful, tangible
    experiences.
   Outdoor Education offers experiences
    that involve students throughout the
    planning, delivery and evaluation stages.
Connecting the Issues of Middle
Schooling with Outdoor Education 2

   Students are engaged in the problem-
    solving and decision making process.
   Outdoor Education provides concrete
    experiences with tangible consequences
    that require commitment throughout.
Connecting the Issues of Middle
Schooling with Outdoor Education 3

   Students require direct experiences not
    abstract concepts.
   Outdoor Education is primarily
    experiential.
Connecting the Issues of Middle
Schooling with Outdoor Education 4

   Adolescents need to build strong
    relationships with adults.
   Outdoor Education offers a context in
    which students and adults work side by
    side allowing the opportunity for
    meaningful and respectful relationships
    to develop .
Practical Program Ideas
Consider your local context
  • What’s your focus?
  • Consider groups who may be able to
      contribute resources, material, experience
  •   For example: museums, water utilities, wind
      farms, zoos, national parks, environmental
      centres, adventure education, activity
      providers, TAFE/Universities, local council
      programs…
Resources for the Classroom
   Journals, Magazines, Text Books
   Video/DVD, Adventure Narratives
    • Out of these resources an understanding of
        an activity, environment, or experience can
        develop as a lead up to the outdoor
        experience.
    •   Students can reflect prior to their experience
        on what they might expect and how they
        might respond.
Outdoor Activities & Resources
   Water Watch         Local water utility
    activities          Environment Victoria
   Water Quality       Catchment
    Monitoring           Management
   Tree Planting        Authority
   Environmental       Wild Watch (ABC)
    Rehabilitation      Green Corps
                        Greening Australia
Outdoor Activities & Resources
   Marine Park          Kickstart (DSE)
    Rehabiliation        Black Friday Online
   Fire Management       Documentary (ABC)