Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC)

LOtC• Grew out of a need to rebalance a prescribed

curricula• There had been a move away from field trips-didn’t

link to assessment easily, lack of time, health and safety, cost

• No. of factors causing concern came together: lack of exercise, poor diet, disconnection with environment and understanding of food production, growing concern about the lack of learning through play and exploration

• Number of initiatives put together by the government supported Learning outside the Classroom

(Harlen and Qualter, 2009)

Initiatives & LOtC

• Every Child Matters• The Early Years Foundation Stage guidance• National Curriculum programmes of study• Excellence and Enjoyment• Sustainable Schools• Healthy Schools Initiative• Growing Schools • The Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto

provides a powerful route supporting these agendas

Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto (DfES 2006)

‘The use of places other than the classroom for teaching and learning’ (DfES 2006:1)

‘We believe that every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability or circumstances’.

Where and when

• School Grounds-daily• Immediately Outside the school-shops/local

parks/industries using planned for activities• Local but needing transport- INTECH http://www.intech-

uk.com/folders/frontpage_welcome/• Day trips with transport-Science Museum in London

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/educators/whats_on_for_your_group/key_stage_1.aspx

• Overnight stays sometimes linked to activity weeks http://www.minstead.hampshire.org.uk/teachers/intro.htm

Learning Outside the Classroom

When these experiences are well planned, safely managed and personalised to meet the needs of every child they can:

• Improve academic achievement.• Provide a bridge to higher order learning.• Develop skills and independence in a widening range of

environments.• Make learning more engaging and relevant to young people.• Develop active citizens and stewards of the environment.• Nurture creativity.• Provide opportunities for informal learning through play.• Reduce behaviour problems and improve attendance.• Stimulate, inspire and improve motivation.• Develop the ability to deal with uncertainty.• Provide challenge and the opportunity to take • acceptable levels of risk.• Improve young people’s attitudes to learning

(DfES 2006:4)

Benefits …

Develop active citizens and stewards of the environment

Benefits

• Nurture creativity

Benefits …

Reduce behaviour problems and improve attendance

Stimulate, inspire and improve motivation

Benefits …

Develop the ability to deal with uncertaintyProvide challenges and the opportunity to take acceptable levels of risk

Benefits … informal curriculum

Learning Outside the Classroom http://www.lotc.org.uk/

OfstedLearning outside the classroom; how far should you

go-2008• When planned and implemented well, learning

outside the classroom contributed significantly to raising standards and improving pupils’ personal, social and emotional development

• Learning outside the classroom was most successful when it was an integral element of long-term curriculum planning and closely linked to classroom activities

• Should provide well-structured opportunities for all• The quality of learning should be evaluated • Should become integral and not an add-on

Learning through Landscapes

http://www.ltl.org.uk/

Health and Safety• Core function of the Outdoor Education Unit

• Headteacher has the key role in school …

delegates to … Educational Visits Coordinator…

advises Group leader …

oversees volunteers.

• Duty of care

• Employer’s H & S Policy – Risk Assessment

• Children should be aware of hazards (risk assessment) and know what to do about them (risk management).

• Use the University science format on the Learning Network.

Assessing Risk• A Y5 school group wish to do a nature trail around the University of

Winchester.• Do a risk assessment in preparation for their visit.• Consider the hazards arising from their

surroundings-physical/weather/ accidents• Consider the hazards that could arise from the nature of the activities• Consider any other issues which arise from bringing a class of 30 Y5

onto the site for the duration of the day.• Consider the barriers that the school may have in taking up this

opportunityhttp://teachfind.com/teachers-tv/making-most-school-trip?

current_search=trips%20primary

Professional Standards for QTS (2007)• Q10 Have a knowledge and understanding of a range of teaching,

learning and behaviour management strategies and know how to use and adapt them, including how to personalise learning and provide opportunities for all learners to achieve their potential.

• Q22 Plan for progression across the age and ability range for which they are trained, designing effective learning sequences within lessons and across series of lessons and demonstrating secure subject/curriculum knowledge.

• Q30 Establish a purposeful and safe learning environment conducive to learning and identify opportunities for learners to learn in and out of school.

• Q31 Establish a clear framework for classroom discipline to manage learners' behaviour constructively and promote their self-control and independence.

Suggest ways you might use this location for science learning … beyond Sc2

Brunner, C. and Windell, A. (2008) Developing the Language of Enquiry through Science, Primary Science, 102, pp.22-24;

Getting Out of the Classroom - A Day with the RSPB

Ailsa Martin, teacher at Bowes Primary School in north London, takes her Year 4 class to Rye Meads RSPB reserve in Hertfordshire. For many of the children, visiting the countryside is a completely new experience (Published: 13 March 2008).

• Identify science learning – and other• Identify potential barriers and suggested ways to

overcome them• Consider the role of teacher subject knowledge. Your

thoughts?• Look for creative approaches.

http://teachfind.com/teachers-tv/ks2-day-rspb?current_search=rspb%20trips

Consider …- Identify, in the context of this setting:

- creative possibilities for enhancing learning in ALL core subjects- opportunities for cross curricular learning- preparatory and follow up work that might further enrich learning- how you might use other adults to support learning- the learning value of repeat visits throughout the year.

- Reflect on: - How you feel about learning LOtC, as a learner and as a teacher,

and how this might affect your practice.- What you perceive as barriers to LOtC and how you might

overcome or re-conceptualise these.

Consider…

Reflection• Experiences of science conducted outside the classroom are more effective

than similar experiences conducted within the classroom. Based on study of 85 9-11 year olds on a 5 day residential. (Nundy,1999 cited in King and Glackin, 2010)

Reflect on your own experiences of school trips. What are your views about taking children off site:

• to support classroom work, • to develop science learning, • to improve attitudes to science, • to challenge science stereotypes?• Is it always about Sc 2 or can LOtC experiences contribute to Sc1, 3 and 4?• Health and safety?• Cross-core?

Before the trip See directed reading on learning outside the classroom in Science handbook. Read the article written by Peacock and Dunne on Learning science outside the classroom.

Other readings you may wish to do:Waite, S. (2007) ‘ Memories are made of this.’

Education 3-13 35(4), 333-347O’Brien, L (2009) ‘ Learning Outdoors: the Forest

School Approach’ Education 3-13, 37( 1), 45-60Blain and Eady (2002) ‘The WOW factor’

International Journal of Research and Method in Education, 25(2), 125-135

In preparation for the trip:• Consider your own memories of primary school.

What are some of your favourite memories? Do they involve learning beyond the classroom?

• Reflect on your experiences of and attitude toward learning beyond the classroom.

After the trip:• Evaluate and reflect on the trip. You will be expected

to share your evaluation in core sessions.