Action learning cycle

Action Learning

• Is a tool used to help plan and undertake student-led environmental projects
• It empowers students to investigate, explore ideas, make decisions, take action and reflect on the changes they have created

Effective Environmental Education

• Observes and honours what is local
• Incorporates a variety of learning and teaching methods
• Can use digital, and must use non-digital tools
• Integrates throughout the curriculum

Learning log/s

• Plain piece of paper, book or digital device
• Space for images, events, quotes, sounds, ideas, interviews etc
• Prompts such as...
  • I was surprised that
  • I really enjoyed it how
  • I felt that the
  • I liked learning

Brainstorming

• Key words, spiders, mind maps, free sketch etc
  • Reflection - why?
    • Pooling knowledge, sharing our thoughts etc

Experiential learning

• Listen count/record nature versus humanity made sounds
• Rope tied in loop, group blindfolded, holding rope/wool everyone creates a shape - square etc
• Cloud spotting - types if known, direction, shapes etc
  • Reflection - why?
    • Here and now, observational, leadership, team, environmental, secure, informed decisions, imagination

Mapping

• Mental maps of area/surroundings - blank paper/screen
• Sound/colour maps

1. Student in centre, records direction of sounds/colours
2. Walk through area record on map sounds/colours
3. Overlay maps

• Scale maps - big maps of small places
• Sculptured maps

Pool of Knowledge

• Is a visual display tool which shows the development of ideas and understandings
• Records responses and understandings
• Assists students to retain control of their own learning
• Facilitates collective learning
• Is a participatory way of building a picture
• Allows critical evaluation of values and actions

Local stories

• Traditional, fiction, legends etc
• A way to explore cultural knowledge
• Provide an opportunity to understand many aspects of historical life

Reflective Techniques

• Whole group/class polite shout out of one worders describing the experience/immersion
  • Students choose a word from the list that most represents

1. Something important about the experience
2. Their best experience
3. What they wished it had been like
4. Their part in the activity
5. What the group was like
6. Their hopes for the next activity, etc, etc

• • Wikimedia Creative Commons - picture of the day

• Group Collage
  • A picture containing a picture/message

1. Any materials or images collected
2. Individuals explain reason for selection