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Creating authentic learning experiences
THE REALM OF learning outside the classroom is rich and authentic, connecting learners to environment, community, peers and themselves, as they make sense of our world.
Education outside the classroom, or EOTC, encompasses all schoolinitiated activity and learning that takes place away from the classroom. The Ministry of Education regards all off-site events as EOTC, so visits with a subject or enquiry focus such as the rocky shore, theatre, museum, or marae; all sports events, cultural exchanges, overseas trips, outdoor education and school camps are included.
EOTC is perfectly placed to implement the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) vision for students to be connected, confident, lifelong learners. The Curriculum, with its framework embedded in values of integrity, innovation, community participation and ecological sustainability, opens up many possibilities for new directions in EOTC.
The NZC states that: “Students learn most effectively when they understand what they are learning, why they are learning it and how they will be able to use their new learning”. The importance of context cannot be underestimated as students need to see relevance in learning.
New guidelines
Late last year, the Ministry of Education resource EOTC Guidelines, Bringing the Curriculum Alive (2009) was introduced to schools. These guidelines provide clear guidance for future EOTC and make a strong case for authentic experiences for teaching and learning.
The guidelines place safety management within the context of effective teaching and provide an approach where the depth of risk management required is proportional to the risk in the activity.
The guidelines set out useful examples of sequencing and progressions, clear planning steps and examples of different types of activities and expected approval processes, parental consent and risk management planning.
The emphasis on learning safely as a shared responsibility is illustrated by a very appropriate Waka analogy. The guidelines highlight the importance of everyone playing their part and, as in life, we all need to take responsibility.
This resource will be the bible for every teacher and will provide guidance for EOTC into the future. It is well set out, provides clear guidance on accepted best practice, legal responsibilities and is complemented with photos to illustrate different aspects. This is an essential resource for all educators and can be downloaded from: www.tki.org.nz/e/communities/ eotc or ordered online at: www. thechair.minedu.govt.nz.
Teaching outdoors
Education Outdoors New Zealand Incorporated (EONZ) is a national professional association for educators taking students into the outdoors.
Key goals focus on development, participation and enrichment of young people in outdoor learning environments and are seen to encompass opportunities for learning in the outdoors, about the outdoors, through the outdoors, and for the environment at all levels of education.
EONZ is committed to fostering and advocating for quality outdoor learning experiences which can educate for a sustainable future, supporting educators and promoting good practice through membership, courses, resources, newsletters and advocacy.
EONZ provides leadership and guidance to the outdoors sector and the government, predominantly through the Ministry of Education, and advocates on behalf of educators.
Communication and collaboration through established and growing partnership relationships with many of the outdoor organisations across the outdoors sector in New Zealand is prioritised; these partnerships are part of the “work in progress” as the status of educators and programmes, and thus the outcomes for learners is advanced.
Members include teachers, schools, tertiary providers, youth groups and outdoor providers and a volunteer national executive is drawn from regional branches around the country. New members are welcome. See www.eonz.org.nz for more information.
