Learning outside the classroom

Learning outside the classroom is not just about what you learn but how and where you learn as well. A manifesto was published in 2006 about learning outside the classroom. The aims of this manifesto are as follows: to improve training and professional development for schools and the workforce, to work with schools and local authorities to manage activities with young children etc.

Outside the classroom teaching is possible in a number of different contexts. One way I have seen learning outside the classroom is in Scouting. Scouts was founded by Robert Bayden Powell in 1907. It is estimated that there are between 25 and 40 million scouts in the world. The scouting association gives children of any age a sense of adventure in safe environment. This is why it is beneficial to children.

Another benefit of learning outside the classroom it can reduce behavioural problems in children. This is because they have the opportunity to do something new and that interests them whilst learning new skills.  This also develops skills and independence. This is because leaders teach the children skills through activities and trips to earn badges. They also develop independence in scouts as they get the opportunity to get away from their parents and go on camps and also take things into their own hands such as building their tents or cooking food on a fire.

Learning outside the classroom also links to the foundation phase. This is because both contexts believe that every child matters. This means that the children should be out first and every aspect should be centered around the child rather than around the subject area. They also both believe that active learning is better than learning from a textbook.

Foundation phase

The foundation phase is a new type of teaching introduced in Wales for children between the ages of 3 and 7. This curriculum is held in maintained and non-maintained settings in schools. It’s emphasis is on active learning as it has been found that children learn better through doing than from doing activities in exercise books.

This curriculum is split up in to seven different frameworks:

• Personal and Social Wellbeing and Cultural Diversity
• Physical Development
• Creative Development
• Language, Literacy and Communication Skills
• Welsh Language Development
• Mathematical Development
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World

I have personally had some experience with the foundation phase when I did work experience as part of my health and social care BTEC. One way my placement utilised the foundation phase was by having “free flow” every day. This is where the staff set up different zones and then let the children play and do whatever they lied in any zone they wanted.

One way the foundation phase is implemented in schools is through the curriculum. Between the ages of 3 and 7 teachers aim to teach children through play. Because of the foundation phase the curriculum now focuses on getting children to learn through direct experiences and active learning.  It also attempts to develop their creative, personal and social needs.

A benefit of the foundation phase is that they do the following:

•          Motivates
•          Stimulates
•          Supports
•          Develops skills
•          Develops concepts
•          Develops language/communication skills
•          develops positive attitudes
•          Demonstrates awareness/use of recent learning and skills

However, A weakness of the foundation phase is that people are not confident in the implementation of it .This is shown in the Foundation Phase: Perceptions, Attitudes and Expectations, An overview of the ethos and an analysis of the implications of the implementation report. It states that’s over half (56%) of the pilot settings were uncertain of their confidence.

Intorduction

This blog will discuss different contexts of learning. This blog will focus on four main contexts which are the foundation phase, learning outside the classroom, Montessori school and forest school. This will also evaluate these contexts by looking at how useful and effectives they are,