Tag Archives: Development

Evaluation

Lifelong Leaders and Learners…

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The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humour, but without folly.
Hello, how are you today? That’s good, I’m well to ~ Jim Rohn ~

Facilitation is an art; there is not doubt about that. It is unique to each individual and is something that changes and flows with the situation you are in…or at least that’s the general idea.

When I sit back and look at the 22 other outdoor edders that I went to Singapore with, I can see the differences in their facilitation styles – each is unique in it’s own way. So what happens when you combine each of these unique styles into groups? Chaos? Harmony? Compromise? Based on experiences in Singapore…all of these things.

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Evaluation

The blind leading the blind

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Initially I did think of it as the blind leading the blind. Every person being totally new to Singapore and attempting to lead our peers steadily through an environment we’d never be able to visit before.

After having a little more time to reflect on my facilitation day as well as other groups’ facilitation day in Singapore, I’ve felt more positive about the experiences, and have been able to view them in a more constructive way. Yes, I can still see many ways in which our facilitation could’ve gone better, however after speaking with other groups it has reassured me a little; knowing they faced similar obstacles, perhaps to a lesser extent.

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Evaluation

Do what you love, love what you do!

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As I’ve been nearing the end of my degree at university, I’ve been questioning myself, in terms of my readiness for the teaching profession. Am I happy with the level of knowledge that I have? Will my students really gain the experiences and passion for the outdoors that I have?

Outdoor Education in Singapore didn’t appear as those it could ignite this passion for the environment. To me, it seemed to revolve only around recreation, which I used to think meant students would only enjoy the activity, and not gain a deeper connection with the outdoors.

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Evaluation

Are we there yet?

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The reason as to why I have chosen this heading for this particular blog is because throughout the days in Singapore this question was running through my head at some points in the trip. It was a very jam packed, full on days that 23 individuals were involved in. There was a lot of ‘go go go!’ and it was sometimes hard to really soak up the place we were in, without feeling rushed.

During the preparation stage of the trip to Singapore, we were all randomly put into groups of about four members, which became our facilitation groups. I was lucky enough to work alongside Kelly, Georgie and Mooey. Upon reflecting my own experience of the day, I expressed in my facilitation blog that I learnt quite a lot about myself as an individual.

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Reflections

Who I Am…

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I have it inside, I know that I do, all that I am is gonna break through.
‘Who I am’
~ Natasha Bedingfield ~

There are many areas of learning that are encompassed within Outdoor Education, but the one area that I think is the least obvious is the learning about oneself. I feel that this is one of the most influential learning areas that Outdoor Education explores as it contributes to making us who we are.

Challenges, struggles, achievement and excitement are all part of being an outdoor edder. These experiences occur on a regular basis throughout the activities that we do and are instrumental in building and establishing ones’ sense of self. Singapore has been no different for me, there have been struggles with the heat, challenges in maintaining emotions and morale, achievement in completing a challenge ropes course for the first time and excitement at flying across a tree top canopy on a zip line.

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Reflections

F.A.C.I.L.I.T.A.T.I.O.N.

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The following is an acrostic poem relating to my learning from my facilitation day on day 7, Friday 3rd July through Singapore Botanical Gardens and Night Safari.

F.A.C.I.L.I.T.A.T.I.O.N.

Full Value Contract (FVC). This is what we agreed to as a team before we even set foot in Singapore. This was represented by a chicken we signed who affectionately became known as Chuck. We agreed to ‘Exploration’ ‘Team’ ‘Culture’ & ‘Respect’.

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Discoveries, Reflections

Two ears, one mouth

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“God gave us two ears & one mouth, so listen twice as much as you speak.”

This is a quote I have heard and describes my time in Singapore travelling over the past two weeks. The world I have grown up in is different to what I have experienced here I Singapore. My upbringing, background and values impact on outlooks in life. Gaining an understanding of this different culture is imperative to the relationships I have built with Singaporeans whilst here.

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Reflections

A smile is the same in every language

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I heard this saying a long time ago. But recently I saw it come into play during my time in Singapore.

I was standing on the train the other day and I glanced at an old lady sitting down. We both smiled. A couple of stops later, she stood up to leave and smiled and waved me goodbye. I’d never met this person but I returned the kind gesture.

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Discoveries, Reflections, Thoughts and feelings

Travel with Fin, a man tall and thin.

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Travel with Fin, a man tall and thin.
In a place full of buildings, he finds beauty within.
Surrounded by those who look different to him.
Fin begins to realise that they are his kin.

Fin’s travels started as he stepped off the plane
Ducking his head to avoid the pain.
His first thoughts were “wow this place just isn’t for me”
“Ducking and squeezing, too crowded you see”.

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Reflections

Get up! But don’t ever give up – Michael Irvin

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Buongiorno Internet!

I’d like to share a quote with you that I came across whilst visiting Raffles Institution. It reads:

“Being a Singaporean is not a matter of ancestry. It is a conviction and a choice”

“Conviction and a choice” Wow. I’m sitting here so inspired by this quote and how accurately it describes my interactions with Singaporeans since I arrived over a week ago. This quote gets my adrenalin going much like when I visited Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) and saw their motto, shared by all Outward Bound centres worldwide:

“To Serve, to Strive, and to not Yield”

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