AT A GLANCE
The University of Wolverhampton has been working with the environmental centre for 3 years, to improve trainees’ practical approach to teaching and learning.
Provision for learners:
The Beaudesert Centre has access to Cannock Chase forest, an area of outstanding natural beauty. There are a range of habitats and environmental areas including 30 acres of woodland and ponds plus climbing walls, low ropes courses, an Iron Age fort, an old ruin of a stately home and several working classrooms. The site is used for day visits and residential courses.
Model for working with trainees:
This project fits the embedded/entitlement placement model. Trainees’ work and evaluations of their experiences formed part of their assessed subject portfolios.
ITT PROVIDER
Name of project:
Working outdoors with trainee teachers at the Beaudesert Centre, Cannock Chase
Higher Education Institution:
University of Wolverhampton
ITE Course:
PGCE and BEd
No. of trainees involved:
270
Year group:
BEd science years 1 & 3, BEd Year 1 Design, Technology and Art, PGCE Science
Subject area:
Science, design and technology, art
Logistics:
Year 1 - 6 days in total, Year 3 - 2 days, PGCE - 1 day prior to school placement, but not linked to block placement.
Provider motivation:
To encourage new teachers:
- to use the outdoors and make learning fun
- not to be constrained by the classroom
QTS Standards:
Q1, Q2, Q24, Q25, Q30
SETTING
Beaudesert Centre, Cannock Chase
Type of setting:
Outdoor education and environmental centre
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- To be intrinsically interesting and motivating, linking with the Excellence and Enjoyment strategy.
- To encourage students to teach science through discovery and investigation
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Trainees in year 1 of the BEd course attend preparatory lectures, and then go to Beaudesert Centre to be trained in teaching activities based on investigating the environment, such as pond dipping and identifying trees. The activities link to the national curriculum, but this is not the driving force.
In year 3 of the BEd course and in the one year PGCE course, trainees link maths and science by using the environment at the centre. As part of a maths trail, trainees are taught how find the age of trees by measuring girths and how to estimate the height of trees. Trainees then teach these activities to children from local schools. A special element of this is the surveying of Castle Ring, and iron-age fort situated next door to the Beaudesert camp. Here, trainees and children estimate and measure the circumference of the fort, and then the diameter and using these values discover the approximate value of pi. More able children progress to calculate the area of the fort and discuss how the Iron Age people who lived there organised their huts and community.
OUTCOMES
Trainees’ evaluations were included as formal pieces of work with subject portfolios. Evaluations demonstrate positive attitudes towards innovative teaching of science and towards motivation and engagement of pupils in learning. Trainees participating in the programme have already begun to use the centre as NQTs showing that the experience is having a tangible effect on their approach to teaching and learning.
In 2007 staff from the University teaching art have used the centre with a visiting artist for a three day event, including specific training for trainees.
