professional accreditation iconProfessional Development with IOL

Professional Development

The Institute for Outdoor Learning is committed to supporting Professional Development in the Outdoor Learning Field. This is achieved through:

SUPPORT
  • One of the Institute's main aims is to promote the provision of quality developmental outdoor experiences for all. This includes supporting members and providing guidance to other practitioners whose involvement in outdoor learning may not be central to their work. One of the Institute's roles is to provide easy access to shared good practice from the field.

FREE RESOURCES
  • IOL is currently developing a selection of free web-based resources for anyone interested in Outdoor Learning provision.

BOOKSHOP and PUBLICATIONS for OUTDOOR PROFESSIONALS

COURSES/SEMINARS

ACCREDITATION for OUTDOOR PROFESSIONALS
  • The 'Accredited Practitioner' (APIOL) is for experienced practitioners of outdoor learning. It is a reflective, mentored process involving both self- and peer-assessment leading to accreditation.

LEADING PRACTITIONER of the INSTITUTE for OUTDOOR LEARNING
  • Pilots - June 2008.
    The second pilot cohort of LPIOL is now under way. In June 2008 8 participants attended an Information and Leadership Development workshop at Bell Heath Study Centre near Bromsgrove.
    The next Information/Leadership workshop will be held on 14/15 November 2008, at a venue to be confirmed.
    To state your interest, please email Heather Brown, enclosing your APIOL Sections A-F (ie Parts 1 and 2), minus Section C, updated in a different colour.
    Applications will only be accepted if the APIOL documents are attached.
    If you have already emailed your details to Heather, but could not attend a previous workshop, please reconfirm your interest by emailing Heather again.  Places will not be reserved on the basis of any previous expression of interest, so it's first in, best dressed! (as they say in Australia!)
    For the latest details see the LPIOL page.

REGISTERED PRACTITIONER of the INSTITUTE for OUTDOOR LEARNING
  • In response to demand from the outdoor field, we are developing a new accreditation to precede APIOL – Registered Practitioner (working title!).
  • Click this link to find out more about:
    * Who wants this accreditation?
    * Key Features being asked for
    * Who is RPIOL for?
    * What does RPIOL cover?
    * The format of RPIOL – is it a course, a qualification?
    * The Accreditation Process
    * Benefits of  RPIOL – it provides


OTHER IOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

New Training Module!!
Facilitating Experiential Learning in the Outdoors

  • We are piloting this new module, the first of a series that we are developing, in January 2008, and we are looking for participants (special one-off fee!)
  • If you are a relatively new outdoor instructor, outdoor therapist, volunteer leader, forest ranger, D of E trainer, environmental studies or geography teacher, or indeed anyone who works with groups in the outdoors! this module will help you to add basic group facilitation skills to your specialism.
  • To see full details of the pilots, and sign up to take part, click here

 

  • Following the success of APIOL, we're developing other projects to complete our suite of qualifications at all levels of the Career Development Framework (PDF) Also see IOL and professional development.
  • For newcomers to the field (seasonal instructors and others)
    We are working on a project with SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for the outdoors, to develop a qualification for seasonal staff. More details will be available in November 2007.
  • For session leaders (people beginning a full time career)
    We're developing a qualification in Facilitation Skills, which will be accredited through the Open College Network. Pilots will be happening on 29-31st January 2008
  • Other modules are being developed on Challenging Behaviour, Risk Management for Managers and Pastoral Care – other titles to follow.
  • We're also developing drafts of a qualification at this level (working title PIOL). This will enable new practitioners to map their skills, qualifications and experience, so that they can plan the next stages of their career development. Pilots of this will be held over the winter of 2007-8.
  • APIOL
    We have piloted the new improved Mentor training, and we're in the process of getting it accredited by OCN.
  • Chris Millett’s priority as APIOL manager is to ensure that the APIOL benchmarks are clearly understood and implemented across the UK. So he is visiting all regions and home nations, running mentor updates and new mentor and assessor training. He is also visiting universities and colleges to talk about APIOL.

 

  • If you would like to know more about any of these projects, or you have further ideas about professional development activities and qualifications that you think IOL should be developing, please contact Heather Brown

 

For all the latest news and regional APIOL information click here