Quality Learning Outside the Classroom LOTC Working Group

“Quality Learning Outside the Classroom”

LOTCWorking Group

The Big Picture • Manifesto for Learning Outside the Classroom • Website www.lotc.org.uk

“All young people should experience learning outside the classroom and its benefits, not as a bolt-on to learning but as a central aspect of the learning experience, the curriculum and the courses they are engaged with.”

www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk

A Different View

Workshop aims;1. Provide a rationale for going out as part of

geography selling the subject as the best medium for

delivering certain aspects of quality LOTC

2. Define what are the indicators of quality LOTC

3. Provide some ideas on how to develop that quality

WHY GEOGRAPHY? LOTC will involve ‘selling’ the subject;

Senior Management Colleagues Participants (e.g. students) Parents (especially if there is a cost

involved)

What does geography offer LOTC that other subjects do not

OR cannot?

In small groups...

You have about 3 minutes!

Geography offers LOTC...

?? ?

?

Having done the pitch...

How do we make sure geography is able to offer ‘quality’ LOTC?

Photo of Sir Alan Sugarremoved for copyright reasons

Linked to teaching topics

Linked to teaching topics

Relevant to the lives of the pupils

Relevant to the lives of the pupils

Allows progression

Allows progressionDeveloping skills and

learning new onesDeveloping skills and

learning new ones

Providing opportunities that

cannot be achieved within a classroom

Providing opportunities that

cannot be achieved within a classroom

First hand learning and ‘real

life’ testing

First hand learning and ‘real

life’ testing

Analysing real and ‘messy’ data

Analysing real and ‘messy’ data

Allowing further independent investigation

Allowing further independent investigation

What makes quality LOTC?

EngagingEngaging

How do we get ‘quality’ LOTC

into our activities?

How do we get quality in LOTC?

Some of our ideasIdeas from a housing estateIntroduction• Pupils consider the characteristic features of the houses.

– Style, age and layout of the area? – What age are the buildings? – Why did people come here?

• Do we all like the same things? – How do we personalise our homes?

Task• Pupils investigate, by observation, the ways in which houses

basically similar in design, are given an individual ‘makeover’

Some of our ideasCloning of a High StreetIntroduction• Based upon research undertaken by New Economics Foundation

(www.neweconomics.org) into the observation that British ‘High Streets’ are becoming clones of each other by offering the same range of services through national chain stores to the detriment of local independent stores.

Task• Repeat NEF original survey• Where in the High Street independent and chain stores are located?• Are independent stores located in particular areas?• Through questionnaires, what attracts people to chain/independent

retailers?• How do independent retailers differentiate themselves from chain

stores? Do they ‘market’ their independent status?

Supporting Your SMT How ‘quality’ LOTC can support

SEFSchool Improvement Plans

External accreditation for ‘providers’

www.lotc.org.ukwww.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk