The succinct, achievable and relevant Outdoor Learning Qualification.
At last, interest is starting to grow for Learning Beyond the Classroom SCQF Level 7. It has taken a few years from development, with continued discussion as to whether the title should change to the more appropriate Introduction to Delivering Outdoor Learning, but we are off and running. I am the first Scottish Awarding Centre to deliver the SCQF version of the qualification.
Shetland Local Authority were the first to embrace the new qualification, with other authorities starting to sign up cohorts. We had a diverse mix of candidates in the first cohort. This included: a geography teacher; ASN staff; primary teachers and ELLC staff.
The first advantage of this qualification is that is open to anyone (over 18 years old) who works with young people/children in the outdoors. I have had interest from Scout leaders, social workers, learning support staff, sports coaches, countryside rangers, home school mums, youth workers and out of school staff.
The second advantage is that rather than completing an exhaustive portfolio to gain your outdoor qualification (like many other qualifications e.g. Forest School), you are simply required to complete a workbook (Q&A response) and a few associated pieces of evidence: 4 session plans; evidence of your session delivery; and associated risk assessments. Evidence can be observed, verbal, written, photographic or filmed. The majority of evidence you gather would be something you need to do if taking young people outdoors.
The third advantage is your client group can be any age (baby- 18+) or size (1 person - many)
The fourth advantage Is that you can deliver it in ANY outdoor location over any reasonable time frame. For example: a playground; park; astroturf pitch; wood; beach…. on a daily, bi-weekly, weekly, monthly basis.
The fifth advantage is you can choose any subject or theme when delivering your sessions. For example: a scout badge, a series of mathematics and numeracy lessons, language development, mindfulness, schematic interests, football skills, STEM experiments, gardening …..
And perhaps, final advantage (there maybe more!) is the cost- coming in at around £300 (for registration, training, training support, assessment, internal verification, external verification and awarding your qualification certificate).
Delivery can be face to face for a FULL day or 4 online sessions (1-1.5 hours long) with a half day face to face session.
This qualification is Ofqual regulated and therefore also recognised in a range of countries across the world.
The qualification has one unit (5 credits/ 50 notional learning hours) with Assessment Criteria linked to: the benefits and challenges of learning outdoors; the role of the adult; adaption to meet learner needs; Benefit Risk Assessment; finding a suitable location (permissions); planning (with links to relevant curriculum), doing and reviewing/evaluating learning and your experience.
See a few screenshots of some of the things candidates have and could cover with young people when undertaking this qualification
Face to face training can be adapted to the cohorts interests. It could therefore be: curriculum focused; cover basic bushcraft- fire or tool working; schematic interest theme or even link to Sustainable Development Goals. Core elements include putting up a shelter ‘fast’, Benefit Risk Assessment and Landscape evaluation.
Reviewing a session
A Screenshot of a submitted workbook (pass)
