Taking Learning Outdoors

Outdoor Connections National Conference 2006

On 7 February 2006, a launch event, the Outdoor Connections National Conference, was held at the West Park Conference Centre in Dundee to highlight the possibilities for learning and pupil motivation in taking learning outwith the classroom. The event was chaired by scientist and broadcaster Heather Reid. A conference programme of speakers, information stalls by pupils and teachers and discussion sessions gave professionals from many different establishments the opportunity to discuss and review the potential of teachers and outdoor instructors working together to achieve their aims.

For a summary of the main speakers' points, read the attached article. PowerPoints, transcripts and MP3s of some of the presentations are available below. A summarised account of the round-table discussions is also available.

Programme

TimeDescriptionFile
10:00Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive, Learning and Teaching Scotland: Welcome
10:10Robert Brown MSP, Deputy Minister for Education and Young People: Keynote speechAudio file icon  MP3: Keynote speech (6MB)
Word icon  Word document: speech transcript (52KB)
10:30Colin Brown, Scottish Executive Education Department: A Curriculum for Excellence OutdoorsWord icon  Word document: speech transcript (36KB)
10:45Don Ledingham, East Lothian Council: A Curriculum for Excellence Outdoors: a headteacher perspectivePowerpoint icon PowerPoint file: a headteacher perspective (90KB)
11:00Collydean Primary School, Perth High School, Breadalbane Academy and Falla Hill Primary School: Views of young people
11:30Alastair Lavery, Chair of the Sustainable Development Education Liaison Group: Real fieldwork happens in a fieldPowerpoint icon PowerPoint file: real fieldwork happens in a field (3.5MB)
12:00Round-table discussion: Is outdoor learning relevant in 21st century Scotland?
12:30Lunch and exhibition
13:30Marcus Bailie, Head of Inspection, Adventure Activities Licensing Authority: The dilemma facing adventure activities in ScotlandPowerpoint icon PowerPoint file: the adventure dilemma (76KB)
13:50Round-table discussion: The hazard of not learning to take risks
14:10Peter Higgins, Edinburgh University: Navigating the barriers? Teachers' approaches to educating outdoorsPowerpoint icon PowerPoint file: navigating the barriers (1.4MB)
14:30Round-table discussion: Supporting teachers
14:50Donald MacLeod, HMIE: Quality education outdoorsPowerpoint icon PowerPoint file: quality education outdoors (332KB)
15:10Round-table discussion: Quality or cost: is one easier to measure than the other?
15:40David Cameron, Director of Children's Services, Stirling Council
and Chair of the Outdoor Connections Project Advisory Group: Closing remarks
Powerpoint iconPowerPoint file: closing remarks (156KB)
Audio file icon  MP3: closing remarks (15MB)

Related links

And by comparison

For a more in-depth look at the problem of the perception of risk in adventure activities, read this article by Marcus Bailie.