Technology in Outdoor Learning - Reflection on a Failed Endeavour

While teaching in an alternative provision (with young people on the verge of transfer to pupil referral units) setting, in a further education college, I tried to implement an outdoor learning project.

These were difficult young people to work with

I used the #microadventure Twitter meme, begun by Al Humphreys, in an attempt to motivate students to engage with some literacy, numeracy, ICT and personal development learning. The aim was to actually complete an overnight trip, planned by the group.

Over a number of weeks I attempted to motivate the students to plan an overnight trip, involve them in documenting our progress and engage the support of others through social media.

We set up:

• a Blogger blog
• a Twitter account
• a Padlet wall

and used Google tools to create collaborative documents and questionnaires.

I left the college before we were able to implement a visit.

In retrospect, I think too much time was spent planning and documenting before actually taking the students offsite. A more immersive experience from the outset might have suited them better, given them a taste of the possibilities. The use of "fun" technologies was insufficient to motivate the students towards the project.

If I was to attempt the exercise again I'd probably use the outdoors as a route into the uses of technology rather than the other way round.