Session 209: What is the value of learning outside of the classroom?

-Date: Thursday 3rd July 2014

What is the value of learning outside of the classroom?

Hosted by Rachel Swinburne

The session focused on the following questions:

Q1 – What are your favourite memories from school trips?
Q2 – What are your best ideas for alternative learning scapes?
Q3 – Is there too much red tape when organising an off site visit?
Q4 – How do you foster independent learning outside of the classroom?
Q5 – Can you measure the impact of learning outside of the classroom?

Session Summary
[pullquote]One of our teachers says there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes. @eylanezekiel[/pullquote]

The topic of learning outside of the classroom proved very popular at the poll and scooped nearly 40% of the vote. The session began with a wonderful collection of descriptive experiences which highlighted the vivid memories people have in relation to both their own school trips and experiences they have had as an educator.

The positive discussion was certainly not dampened by the issue of ‘red tape’ with many people referring to the importance of a supportive and forward thinking SLT. The idea came up of keeping trips more local which helps students explore the local community. There was definitely a ‘can do’ attitude from the majority of tweeters which suggested the outcome and experience for students and staff outweighed the effort & paperwork.

The question around fostering independent learning out of the classroom explored the broader idea of student responsibility and the key skills that trips build and the emotional connection students make from experiences.

The question idea of measurable impact of learning can be summed up by this tweet:

JEBasnett @basnettj
@RachelSwinburne @ukedchat #ukedchat some things will be measurable but some are immeasurable and more valuable because of it

Thank you to all of those who were involved in the discussion. Myself and fellow tweeters at the #UKEdchat hub finished the session feeling empowered to try new ideas using Technology such as green screen in the classroom @UrbanTeacher and plan creative opportunities for learning outside our day to day classrooms for the next academic year!

Notable Tweets

Stewart McCutcheon
@Dumfries13
@RachelSwinburne @ukedchat Seeing a crying quiet 13 yo girl persuaded to abseil, scream “again, again” then phone home to boast. #ukedchat

Sarah Wright
@Sarah__wright1
#ukedchat take a child outside, watch them change… you literally remove the ceiling for some!

Suklaa
@suklaa
.@RachelSwinburne #ukedchat Back to original Q there’s something ace about when kids realise teachers are real people-trips make that happen

Daniel Cibich
@OBTrustLondon
#ukedchat In some cases if teachers don’t take their students to wild places, when will they ever go? #outdoorlearning

Andy Knill
@aknill
@RachelSwinburne #ukedchat A3 have a school supportive strategy in developing Risk assessments. Use @dawnhallybone idea of #googlemaps H&S

Summer Turner
@ragazza_inglese
@RachelSwinburne @ukedchat basing around a themed project – get children thinking about representation of abstract concepts in real world.

Stephen Greenwood
@SGSLTDinspire
#ukedchat learning outside classroom gives opportunities for groups to bond like no others. Reach out,open up the door & watch them grow!

Tweet of the week
Eylan Ezekiel
@eylanezekiel
A3 One of our teachers says there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes. #ukedchat

About your host:
Rachel Swinburne is an enthusiastic NQT in Design & Technology, Teaching & Learning Coach at a Blackfen Schoolfor Girls in South East London. A true teacher geek, a TeachMeet regular and advocate for Twitter as the best CPD tool out there for teachers! Passionate about experimenting with new technology in the classroom and always keen to build links with industry to show students the exciting career possibilities in the design world & beyond.