Challenge 3: the outdoors in teacher training
The motion:
> Drive up confidence and competence in using the outdoors for teaching and learning through Department for Education funding for initial teacher training (ITT) and continuing professional development (CPD).
Although training in learning in the natural environment is required as part of ITT, it is currently is patchy in terms of the quality and quantity of delivering training around the importance of learning in the natural environment as well as clear training around the practicalities.
Through the Natural Connections Demonstration Project, Natural England is looking at how outdoor learning might be better introduced into ITT. CPD for existing teachers is out there but is rarely long term and it is important to get to trainees in the early stages of their training so they engage with this pedagogy from the outset.
In Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland has recently begun to change its approach on this. As Alison Motion said in the original Loomio discussion board - “We now have accredited professional learning for which all teachers have to register on a rolling basis (over the next 5 years). ALL teachers must demonstrate Career Long Professional Learning (CLPL) which has taken over from CPD. The learning for sustainability agenda is part of that accreditation and therefore we expect a steady uptake in outdoor learning in a variety of ways, over the next few years.”
What lessons can the other nations draw from Scotland? And what good practice is happening in Wales and Northern Ireland?
What does the ask look like? Who are we targeting – universities, LEAs, the Department for Education…?
AFP Robinson Wed 23 Apr 2014 2:03PM
Yes, Mary, I agree...many NQTs that I train say they dont have confidence teaching outdoors nor much experience of learning outdoors.
Also in my conversations with ITT providers they are having to teach many of their students the basics of the subject matter (science for example) as well as how to teach it whether indoors or out! We would argue that they could be doing this outdoors, and that this would not necessarily add hugely to the time taken...but limited time is an issue the ITT providers have highlighted to me in conversation...
Graham Lodge Thu 15 May 2014 2:49PM
https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/EOT01/EOT01.pdf … was last research? 2005/6
with lots of new routes & ITT providers far less OL in ITT now, Teach Direct, Teaching Schools etc all appear to be leaving this for schools to cover on placements or as NQT's were it is very difficult to get it fitted in! Big challenge, and shame that OFSTED is not helping us by checking ITT providers against Teachers Standards!
Mary Jackson Wed 21 May 2014 7:09AM
I've been asking the teachers I've been running training for recently whether they received any training on teaching outside in their initial training. The answer is invariably 'no'. Teacher training generally - whether ITT or post qualification - has to be a priority to achieve our aims. The curriculum will never be perfect but there are tonnes of opportunities for using the outside as an inspiration, a resource and a setting within the new curriculum and teachers just need a little guidance on how to do that. They need to know that it is more than mini-beasts and bug hotels (much as these are great), that the outdoors is an extension of their teaching environment and can be used in so many different ways to teach right across the curriculum. My experience shows me that teachers need a bit of inspiration and confidence building then they get really excited about using their grounds. So in conclusion, worry less about the curriculum, focus more on teacher training as whatever the curriculum is, teachers who understand can take it outside.But I would also say getting 'permission' from the DfE to teach outside will definitely help so explicit support and guidance from Ofsted/DfE would certainly help with this.
Amanda Elmes Wed 28 May 2014 3:53PM
A generation of young teachers are in ‘the system’ at present that have not experienced enough ‘play’ ‘mucking around’ ‘den making’ themselves to be comfortable taking others. These young professionals need their confidence building, others (us) need to consider the whole group management and H&S en mass so they can have fun with small groups of children, take responsibility and learn themselves and ultimately teach. H&S and risk assessments seem to be the starting point which can be off-putting, we must start with the ‘value’ of the experience and manage the risk.
In Scotland Outdoor Learning has been written in to the GTCS standards for teachers – they have to demonstrate ability to use all approaches to learning including outdoors. Hopefully this will drive OL being a core part of ITE (not there yet). There are increasing opportunities for CPD through participation in training that is recognised by GTCS as contributing to standards.
So – the core ask would be how to get OL written into the standards in other parts of the UK
Mary Jackson · Tue 22 Apr 2014 12:41PM
What does ITT look like is maybe the first question. This is getting more varied as school-based training as well as the Teach First approaches are supported by the current DfE. If students are in schools that don't use outdoor learning themselves then students are not likely to get exposed to this approach, and may well have missed out in their own school experience.