Connections can be made between many subjects, initiatives and issues in education, but there seems to be a particularly useful and exciting possibility of thinking about Community Cohesion [CoCo], Learning Outside the Classroom [LOtC], Education for Sustainable Development [ESD] and Global Learning, together.
The Tide~ global learning LOtC Liaison Group propose that by considering these four perspectives together, coherent and innovative learning opportunities could be developed. The group have explored the idea of a framework for thinking about these issues in the shape of a tetrahedron:
The beauty of a tetrahedron as a framework is that all points are connected to all others. If a 3D model of this framework is made, there are many ways that it could be viewed. For example, the tetrahedron could be moved to enable a different corner to be at the centre:
The LOtC Liaison Group spent some time thinking about this framework, asking themselves these questions:
In their discussions, the group found a range of ways of potentially using the tetrahedron model by considering what links two corners along an edge [eg what is the complementarity between LOtC and Community Cohesion?]; using the faces to gather ideas about 3 out of 4 of the themes; putting particular issues or ideas on the faces which connect three themes together.
Another way of considering this model is to think about learners or stakeholders. It would be possible to place a particular group of learners in the centre of the tetrahedron [eg underachieving or Gifted and Talented pupils] and think about how the four themes can contribute to meeting their needs. Similarly, it would be possible to place stakeholder groups [staff, parents, governors] in the centre and think about how these people interact with the themes in a school.
The following is a summary of the thinking of the group:
We would be very interested in hearing your thoughts about this model, and the potential benefit of viewing LOtC, CoCo, ESD and Global learning in this way.
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