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Wolds Consortium Case Study Environmental and Land Based Diploma
06/01/2010
The Hide and Seek course at Lincolnshire Rural Activity Centre in Louth provides a learning journey through the natural environment using both traditional and hi-tech methods and resources. It promotes a hand’s on approach to discovering the flora and fauna seen around the amazing site. Students take a walk through the sunken woodlands, delve beneath the waters and find what’s hidden in the ponds.
The centre’s facilities have a practical approach and are highly interactive. There is the opportunity to study wild life through a lens - through a microscope or the interactive cameras that capture activities and are sited in woodlands, meadows and in hedgehogs and bird boxes and in the ponds. The project boasts an interactive hide where learners can direct the cameras to where they want to view, showing up on a split screen monitor and new classroom facilities.
Following a well attended open day the centre has been used by more than 80 students of mixed ages and abilities with a good take up expected in 2010.
East Midlands New Technology Initiative (NTI) has was awarded the contract to distribute £600,000 of capital grants to help schools deliver the new Diploma qualifications. The funding has been provided by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) under their Catapulting Kids Further initiative.
The Diploma is designed for 14 – 19 year olds and will be available in the first five subjects to be launched - Engineering, Construction and the Built Environment, Society Health and Development, Manufacturing and Product Design, and Land Based and Environment.
Hilary Whaley , executive director of the East Midlands NTI says they are ideally placed to handle this contract: “We have a proven track record in handling the processes of allocating grant funds from our years of working with small and medium sized businesses and educational institutions.
“It is a logical step to extend this form of support to 14 – 19 year olds who then feed into our member colleges and universities. emda has correctly identified that the region’s skills base must be raised through investment in industry specific training to give us a competitive edge for the future.
“We have looked for applications for equipment that will enthuse pupils and have a real wow factor. This project is an exciting development for young people but it also has huge value for the local community and businesses who will be able to access and use the equipment to be purchased.”
Learner quotes
"Enjoyed working on the project"
"This is like BBC nature watch and is wow"
"It’s interesting to see the different animals through the cameras and that you can move the cameras about to look for them"
Staff
Conservation Tutor
"An interesting project that will help learners have an understanding of their natural environment."
Primary School Head
"What an interesting resource that is not found anywhere else locally. We will be bringing the pupils up to use it."
GCSE Geography tutor
"Really pleased with the facility. The students enjoyed the activities and we will be looking at bringing the A level group up."