The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) website has an online toolkit for teachers to help prepare for out-of-school learning experiences, and shows how to incorporate such experiences into curriculum planning.
Bradfield School students outside the Winter Gardens, Sheffield © Steve Hall Photography
Termed ‘out and about guidance’, it is organised by the three key questions for curriculum planning, outlined by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA):
- What are we trying to achieve?
- How do we organise learning?
- How well are we achieving our aims?
There is a wealth of information contained in this guidance, all very useful, but a lot to take in on one visit to the website. To help you find what you need, the Engaging Places team has highlighted the sections that are most helpful to begin with (click on the headings below to go to the sections on the LOtC website).
Why? Making the case
This is a great summary about the benefits of learning outside the classroom. Listed benefits include: personal and social development; school improvement; sense of place; and risk, challenge and adventure. You can click on individual topics to find more information on how and why each one is beneficial.
Setting learning objectives
This guide to thinking about the learning objectives and outcomes of your out-of-school learning experience uses a diagram to help you organise your planning. There is good information on relevant learning activities to achieve particular outcomes.
Planning
This two-page document helps you make sure your LOtC activity is meeting clear aims and objectives. There are suggestions on how to plan for continuous opportunities for learning outside the classroom.
Looking at policy
A table provides an easy-to-read overview of 15 policy areas you may need to consider in your LOtC planning. Each policy is presented with a brief description of how this can be used in LOtC, along with suggested websites to find out more.
Charging policy
Even if your school or department already has a policy for what you can and can’t charge parents for, this three-page document provides you with a good background on funding and the grey area that LOtC opportunities can fall into.
There are suggestions for other ways of funding experiences, and ideas for cutting costs. Finally, a flowchart helps you think through where funding for such experiences should come from.
Student on an English Heritage discovery visit at the secret Wartime Tunnels, Dover Castle © English Heritage
Health and safety
This is a decent and straightforward overview of what is required of you, as a teacher, when responsible for young people. It talks through issues of statutory responsibility for the health and safety of young people, and the responsibilities of employers, employees and governing bodies.
Where and when
This is an overview for helping you decide where and when to go on an LOtC visit; what the benefits might be, and what subjects and learning opportunities are best suited to different places and times.
There is a list of suggested areas that can be used for learning outside the classroom the built environment is one of those, and others are sacred spaces, heritage sites, and there are suggestions for arts and creativity, expeditions and visitor attractions.
For each place there is information on what a visit could entail within that particular environment, the range of learning opportunities offered, and the sort of provision and learning support on offer.
You can do it
This section helps you refine your planning paperwork to three basic procedures – risk management, employer approval and parental consent. It will help you identify the level of activity you are planning, from simple to complex. There is useful information on what you should be doing in your planning process and what paperwork needs to be completed.
Highbury Fields students visiting the London Eye © Alys Tomlinson
Who can help?
This section provides a list of sources you can draw upon for planning and preparation, and ideas of how to go about including each source of information.
Support for learning outside the classroom
This page is definitely worth a visit – it has a long list of other supporting bodies that can help you in your planning, or will point you in the right direction. Examples are: national education initiatives; local level networks; information on inclusion; health and safety links; handy suggestions for evaluation; notable award schemes; and subject- and sector-based bodies.
Evaluation
Evaluation of any project, and especially out-of-classroom opportunities, is invaluable. This part of the site will help you assess student learning and the benefits of running LOtC activities. It will help to highlight to your department, headteacher and school why such a project should continue.
This section is still under construction (December 2008), but provides some key questions to think about during the learning experience.
Go directly to the LOtC out and about guidance
