OUT OF THIS WORLD
A cross-curricular environmental studies experience
Devised by Colin Andrews
Background
In 1979 Devon Local Education Authority launched an initiative entitled 'Teaching For A World Of Limited Natural Resources". . I was then Head of Chemistry at Chulmleigh Community College, one of the four schools in the county chosen to develop teaching materials on this theme. I took, as my starting point, the idea of 'Spaceship Earth', and over the next five years spent considerable time producing and revising material for a twelve week module. The target group initially were Year 9 (13/14 years old), but, following the scheme's success, I was keen to explore its usefulness with both younger and older students. In the academic year 1985-1986 I obtained a year's secondment for a Diploma in Applied Educational Studies with the Centre for Global Education (or World Studies, as it was originally known) at the University of York. During the year, I refined and expanded the teaching pack, trialling the materials in a number of primary and secondary schools in Devon, Bristol and Yorkshire. I also developed a computer programme for the then state-of-the art school computer, the BBC Master, and produced a short video, shot with the school's newly acquired portable video camera. The whole package was published by the then Devon Educational & Television Resources Service, and the limited edition quickly sold in the U.K. and English schools abroad.
By the time I returned to the classroom at the end of my year's secondment, however, things had moved on; the National Curriculum was almost upon us, and the opportunity for flexible, cross-curricular activities virtually non-existent. Rigidly imposed targets, ticking boxes, and conformity were in vogue, at least among our paymasters, and the likes of 'Out of this World' were indeed alien species ! My project was only good for gathering moon dust. In the subsequent years of my teaching career, until I took early retirement in 1995, there was never another opportunity to use the teaching pack I had produced.
The basic concept of 'Out of this World'
The students are asked to imagine that they have been selected as crew for a spaceship, on a voyage that will last a lifetime.
In Stage One, consideration is given to what they will require for the journey, what preparations should be made, and what problems they may encounter. Self sufficiency in food & energy, recycling, and personal relationships are the main topics introduced in this stage.
Stage Two involves a simulated space journey, in which decision making when faced with hazards, monitoring of resources and life support systems are key tasks, involving co-operative working, and mathematics.
In Stage Three, the space travellers land on the planet, Terra Nostra, where they establish four separate communities in regions with widely different terrain and natural resources. After considering immediate means of survival, the communities are encouraged to decide on their system of decision making and community rules. Exploration and interaction with the other communities follows, with opportunity to appreciate different cultures and customs, and, through 'discoveries' of various resources and commodities, a system of inter-community trading develops.
After a suitable period 'in-role' for the three stages, time is given to debriefing and further discussion of many issues raised.
Fast forward to 2010 ....
Saving the planet is now mainstream politics, in words, if not in action. Green issues, global warming, dwindling natural resources, recycling and renewable energy are topics that impossible to ignore in the media, and questions in public examinations show strong bias to environmental concerns.
The issues and topics considered in Out of this World are perhaps even more important and relevant today than they were twenty five years ago. The difference, however, is that those who voiced concern, from Greenpeace, and Friends of the Earth, for example, are no longer regarded as minority fringe eco-freaks; an ecologically sustainable future is now in the limelight on the stage of international diplomacy.
Whereas source material and supplementary reading on environmental issues was relatively scarce and not particularly student friendly when Out of this World was conceived, the internet has made a vast amount of such information available at the click of a mouse. The questions still need to be asked, but the wherewithall to give reasoned answers based on facts and 'expert' opinion is at the fingertips of every student.
Ideally, in my original project, instead of improvising with a crude BBC Basic monitoring programme , a scrolling space chart of acetate roll on an overhead projector and magnetic spaceships stuck to the screen, I would have liked to have had a fully computerised stage two space journey simulation with interactive scrolling screen and realistic graphics. This was not feasible with computer memory measured in a few megabites, but today with giga-going-on-terabites in every home PC, such programmes are not only possible, but the writing of such a programme quite possibly within the capability of even your average teenage computer geek.
... and into the Future
Retired from teaching for many years now, I have neither the time nor contacts within the profession to bring Out of this World fully up to date. Nor do I have the skills to write sophisticated computer programmes. I propose, therefore, to make all my original material available on-line, in the hope that someone will be able to make use of parts, perhaps even feel inspired to run with the whole concept and adapt it to the twenty-first century classroom. I'd appreciate acknowledgement as the source of the idea, and I'm happy to give further details or offer advice on any aspect of the package. If it's of any use, other than as a museum piece, I have all the pages of the original BBC Basic programme.
The material will take some time to transcribe. It will appear, in stages, as downloadable pdf files. The link below will become active when these files are available. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me if this resource pack takes your interest.
Colin Andrews March 2010
My home page Out of this World Resources My email