Why Get Outside?

Education Outside the Classroom brings the revised NZ Curriculum ‘alive’ encapsulating the underlying principles; vision and values; key competencies and learning areas. It offers teaching and learning in ‘real’ contexts through connections with community and environments.

The Get Outside Conference (April, 2010) is a unique opportunity for educators interested in teaching and learning outside the classroom to build confidence, enhance, enrich and revitalise their teaching.

This conference, being held at the Royal NZ Police College, Porirua offers all teachers, outdoor providers and outdoor educators the opportunity to expand their capability, share ideas and be inspired.

A combination of experts and practitioners will present a rich variety of sessions and will focus on learning in the school grounds, local communities and environments.

Liz Thevenard (senior lecturer VUWCOE, chair EONZ) and her conference planning team of teachers believe in the importance of building educators’ confidence and competence to take students outside the classroom and this conference offers a unique opportunity to do this.

“I am committed to enabling teachers to ‘Get Outside’ and to manage learning safely. EOTC has been a passion of mine throughout my teaching career. It excites and engages learners and provides memorable learning.”

Bridget Janse (HOD Outdoor Education, Paraparaumu College) highlights that.

“Environmental awareness and sustainability will be two of the key messages throughout the conference. In the current situation of global environmental change it’s important that children engage with their environment, that they understand, appreciate and value it and are involved in sustaining it.”

“This is an exciting opportunity to get together with other educators and share ideas of how to get outside to really make learning meaningful. Our cultural and natural heritage is alive all around us, inspiring students is just a matter of exploring it,” says Craig Donnelly, (senior teacher, Berkley Normal Middle School).

For more information about ‘Get Outside’, 6th-9th April, 2010, please visit www.trcc.org.nz