Nafso Conference 2011
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NAFSO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENT 2012 Rhyd-y-Creuau FSC & Waterloo Best Western Hotel, Betws-y-Coed, N Wales 4-6 January 2012 Hosted by the Field Studies Council, supported by PGL & the Cranedale Field Centre Fieldwork Experiences: perspectives from Snowdonia INTRODUCTION NAFSO and FSC are delighted to invite educators from NAFSO throughout the UK and beyond to join us for this unique FSC The National Association professional development opportunity in January 2012. The Field Studies Council of Field Studies Officers is is a charity which aims ‘to PROGRAMME a voluntary organisation bring environmental which aims to promote The programme for this three-day event includes quality understanding to all field studies, learning keynote presentations and the chance to network with through firsthand outside the classroom colleagues from a variety of backgrounds in outdoor experience. Its primary and education for learning. In addition, individuals from many different mechanisms to do this sustainable development. organisations have kindly agreed to share their expertise are its network of 17 NAFSO is the only with delegates through the extensive programme of residential and day organisation in the workshops, off-site visits and discussion groups. centres across the UK and United Kingdom which publications unit. The solely represents LOCATION AND VENUE organisation aims to work professionals employed with 100,000 people The location in the Conwy Valley of N Wales is truly in teaching, developing every year, with 20,000 inspirational in itself. If you then add in the facilities of the and promoting field subsidised learners. Rhyd-y-Creuau Field Centre and the Waterloo Best Western studies. Hotel, you will see that we have a great venue for our PDE. www.field-studies- www.nafso.org.uk council.org PDE facilities will be shared between the Betws-y-Coed locations of the centre & hotel which will allow delegates to choose accommodation to suit budgets with movements between covered by minibus or short walk! PARTNERSHIP NAFSO and FSC are very pleased to have support for this event from PGL who will be hosting the PDE13. Many local organisations are also contributing along with some delegates. The Cranedale Field Centre will be hosting the PDE Reception. The support of Cambridgeshire Environmental Education Service [CEES] at the Stibbington in handling the booking arrangements is again most welcome and appreciated. Finally we must thank the FSC for their support and professional advice in hosting our annual event. Page 1 of 9 NAFSO Professional Development Event 2012 Tuesday 3 January Travel for the Executive and others arriving early. 3.00 pm Arrival at Rhyd-y-Creuau (RyC) Field Centre (Refreshments available) 4.00 - 6.30 pm Executive meeting at RyC Others settle in at chosen accommodation 6.45 pm Executive & others at R-y-C travel to Waterloo Hotel for the evening 7.30 pm Dinner at Waterloo Hotel for all Wednesday 4 January Travel time for most delegates. PDE hub will be RyC Dining room, Library & Common Room. 10.00 - 11.00 am Market place stallholders set-up in Common Room 10.30 am onwards Transport will be provided to collect train travellers from Llandudno Junction 11.00 am onwards Most delegates arrive at RyC. Those staying at Centre book in. Luggage of Hotel guests will be stored in the centre library or left in vehicles Conference Registration in RyC lobby Refreshments available in Dining Room & market place open Noon Welcome and Meeting of “New to PDE” delegates with Executive members 12.00 - 1.00 pm Informal Buffet lunch, optional Centre tour & visit to market place 1.00 pm Official Welcome to the PDE NAFSO President, NAFSO Chairman, FSC Director and Sponsor Event Directors with the administration details 2.00 - 3.30 pm Workshops in the Centre or surrounding grounds 3.30 pm Tea, market place & optional Centre tour 4.30 pm Keynote Address: Alistair Cook. Representative of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHEOC) and Head of local Residential Centre 5.30 pm Travel to and checking in at Hotel. RyC delegates free time/networking 7.00 pm RyC delegates travel to Waterloo Hotel 7.30 pm Dinner at Waterloo Hotel for all delegates 10pm onwards Shuttle transport back to centre for RyC delegates Thursday 5 January 7.30 - 8.30 am Breakfast at accommodation 8.45 am Hotel delegates travel to RyC 9.00 - 9.30 am Packed lunch routine at RyC (with own sandwich box & drink container) 9.30 am Full day field work options in North Wales 4.30 am All return to accommodation base 6.30 pm Informal gathering in Waterloo Hotel Bar for Reception & News Items 7.30 pm Conference Dinner in Waterloo Hotel 9.00 pm onwards Entertainment at Hotel till late 10pm onwards Shuttle transport back to centre for RyC delegates Page 2 of 9 NAFSO Professional Development Event 2012 Friday 6 January 7.30 – 8.30 am Breakfast at accommodation base. Waterloo residents to settle bills hand in keys and make way to RyC (transport provided) Luggage again stored at RyC 9.30 am NAFSO AGM followed by further discussion on current issues. 10.30 am Refreshments & final Market Place 11.00 am Keynote Address: Gutto Bebb. (Welsh MP & supporter of outdoor learning) Noon NAFSO PDE 2013 - presentation from PGL 12.15 pm Thanks & Closing address: NAFSO Chairman 12.30 pm Buffet Lunch to eat in or take away. Collapse Market Place & Departure for all Transport will be available for “green “delegates to Llandudno Junction train Station Early arrivals: Delegates are welcome to arrive on Tuesday 3 January, ahead of the formal opening of the event. The booking form indicates the charge for this extra night. Staying On: Delegates are welcome to stay on in the area, but must make their own STRAPLINE arrangements with the accommodation venues. Wednesday Afternoon Workshop Options Session Session W1 Water, Water Everywhere! code: title: To trial a range of activities which can be used by students to investigate aspects Learning Outcomes: of the water cycle. To consider different reasons why the Conwy Valley is prone to flooding. Participants will trial infiltration and interception experiments in the grounds of the Session Outline: field centre, that aim to identify how land use affects these hydrological processes. We will also trial a storm simulation experiment, which can be used to introduce students to storm hydrographs and how these relate to land use. These activities will be briefly followed up with ‘out in the field’ data analysis techniques. Session Session W2 Putting numeracy into fieldwork code: title: Discuss and practice using a range of different techniques to use and develop Learning Outcomes: numeracy in the outdoor classroom. Consider ways these techniques can be used in participants’ work environment. Participants will conduct a range of quick fieldwork activities, collecting numerical Session Outline: data and then consider different ways to display and analyse the information out in the field. These techniques, such as ‘human graphs’ and mapping, are aimed at improving numeracy skills and making numbers more ‘real’ for learners. Page 3 of 9 NAFSO Professional Development Event 2012 Session Session W3 Integrating (basic) Google Earth and Fieldwork (ICT) code: title: Learning Outcomes: Use Google Earth navigation controls to find locations around the world. Create pins marking places of interest, and add text and pictures to these pins. Session Outline: A Practical session where participants will use basic Google Earth techniques to find locations and make information pins. We will consider how this can be used to support fieldwork and prepare students for outdoor learning. Session Session W4 More Advanced Google Earth (ICT) code: title: Use GE graphs to create different graph overlays on Google Earth. Learning Outcomes: Place different layers/maps over Google earth. Consider different ways these techniques can be linked to fieldwork. Aimed at people who can navigate about using Google earth and create pins to mark Session Outline: places of interest. A Practical session where participants will use Google Earth and GE graphs to present data and use layered maps. We will consider how these techniques can be used to support fieldwork. Session Session Practical Assessment for Learning and Identification in the W5 code: title: Stream Use and evaluate different ‘starter’ and ‘plenary’ activities which can be used to Learning Outcomes: assess students understanding. Identify a number of different species in a freshwater environment using different types of keys. In the stream which runs through the Centre grounds and into the River Conwy, Session Outline: participants will undertake a quick stream dipping session. We will share and trial ways to ensure students’ prior learning is quickly assessed using engaging ‘starter’ and ‘plenary’ activities. We will also have an opportunity to Identify creatures down to family level and share knowledge about the aquatic life found. Session Session W6 Low ropes session: sharing ways to facilitate team building code: title: Gain hands- on practical experience of different team building activities. Learning Outcomes: Trial different review techniques. Use different low ropes games which can be used to support team work. The low ropes course, 5 minutes walk from the field centre, will be used by Session Outline: participants who will trail different activities aimed to build teamwork skills. We will share and consider different ways these activities can be used with groups and ways to review these activities. Page 4 of 9 NAFSO Professional Development Event 2012 Session Session W7 Down to the woods today: experiential learning and bushcraft. code: title: Share, trial and evaluate a number of experiential activities which can be used to Learning Outcomes: explore a woodland (and are adaptable to other environments) Consider how these activities can be used to aid outdoor classroom learning.