The planning has begun as we look ahead to the relaunch of the Experiential Program: Ridgelines & Coastlines, set to begin in the second term. Trips are being booked and gear prepped, and the year of rich outdoor education, carefully planned.
Research into experiential teaching methodologies note that for greatest impact, and to provoke greater reflection and subsequent learning, instruction needs to aim to put learners into situations when they are either “stuck” with a problem to tackle or “struck” with novel experiences. It is while being interrupted from their normal flow of learning that “deep experiencing” can take place; It is here that big changes in beliefs and behaviour, or refinement in skill take place.
Students in the Ridgelines & Coastlines program will be engaged in new and dynamic environments throughout the year, as well as connecting with unfamiliar people and ideas. They will be stuck with new challenges, whether tackling a steep rockface, or paddling into a stiff headwind and struck with new perspectives and differing viewpoints. These pure experiences will take the students on a journey through learning cycles that will ultimately leave them changed and lead to growth throughout the year and beyond.