Postgraduate Diploma in Education Outdoor Education Elective
This elective is offered to students undertaking the PGDE (secondary) at Moray House School of Education. These students are training to become teachers in secondary schools and this elective is additional to their other general and subject-based training. Students should check programme regulations regarding access to electives.
Rationale
This elective course does not aim to train student-teachers as outdoor specialists but to provide them with some understanding of the benefits, processes and skills related to learning in the outdoors. It responds to recent UK government reports on the role and status of outdoor learning in schools which reveal that, despite the evidence in favour of outdoor learning, many schools and school curricula are not well structured to support this form of learning[1]. This elective is offered as an initial step towards assisting teachers to incorporate outdoor learning in their teaching and curriculum planning.
The course is designed in an interdisciplinary manner to allow students from different discipline areas to apply their specialist knowledge to the outdoor context. The intention is that students are introduced to concepts of outdoor, experiential and environmental teaching and learning methods, so that they may apply this learning to their own teaching. The course content supports the Scottish 5-14 National Guidelines, particularly in the Environmental Studies, Personal and Social Development, Citizenship and Expressive Arts areas.
Indicative Content
- Why outdoor learning? Exploring personal and social, environmental and health oriented rationales for outdoor education.
- Outdoor learning and the 5-14 curriculum guidelines
- Experiential learning in outdoor contexts
- Reviewing methods and critiques
- Personal development—self reflection, self esteem, values education
- Social development—group dynamics, communication and team building
- Environmental education—in, about and for the environment
- The Outdoor Access Code and related issues
- Inclusion and equity issues in outdoor learning
- Safety and group management in the outdoors
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategies
A variety of teaching and learning approaches are used including: group discussion, problem solving, team building, experiential learning, sensory awareness, academic reading, role play, creative expression and outdoor pursuits. The core component of the elective course enables students to complete classes during the weekly timetabled period including some full day sessions. There will be an option of participating in an additional residential experience at the University of Edinburgh's Woodlands Outdoor Education Centre.
- Teaching Contact Time: 36 hrs comprised of 18 hours practical activities (3 days x 6hrs) + 18 hrs classes or workshops.
- Students will be expected to complete relevant readings and assignment tasks in their own study time.
- Access to venues and activities necessitates some extra cost to students for food, transport, equipment or entry to venues. Costs will be kept to a minimum and most equipment will be supplied by the University.
Assessment
There are two assignments:
- Reflective log (of approximately 2000 words) 70%
- Outdoor Activity—plan, facilitate and evaluate a minor outdoor activity (in groups) (1000 word equivalent) 30%
For more information on the PGDE elective course in outdoor education, please contact Dr Simon Beames at simon.beames@ed.ac.uk
Notes
[1] House of Commons Education and Skills Committee (2005). Education Outside the Classroom. Second Report of Session 2004-05, UK: The House of Commons. www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/education_and_skills_committee.cfm, Accessed June 7, 2005.
Office of Standards in Education (2004). Outdoor education: Aspects of good practice. Ofsted, September, 2004.
