Experiential Learning
EL Possibilities for Self-nominated Projects
PGDE students (both full-time and part-time) can nominate their own EL projects using the proposal template available below. Self-nomination can be made individually or in group (max. three students). Students are always welcome to discuss their project idea with the EL team. In addition, PGDE full-time students must consult their Methods Coordinator on the proposed project before submitting the nomination form to [javascript protected email address]. (This part is optional for PGDE part-time students.) The decision of the EL office over whether the proposed project is feasible or not is FINAL.
Self-nominated projects should NOT be something that are part of students’ regular schedule (like an annual school picnic, or an assembly, etc.) and it should NOT be only about teaching or classroom work (such as teaching a new class, or working with a new textbook, etc.) We are expecting PGDE part-time students to explore other learning spaces that are outside the normal school context. We hope that the proposed projects allow for professional and personal growth and that students learn something new from the process, and just as importantly, in the process give something to the community or a particular group in the community. Therefore, the EL project should produce a sense of service or community engagement.
EL Project Self-nomination Form for PGDE
What can you do for an EL project?
- You might propose working on an Other Learning Experiences (OLE) project in your school – perhaps planning a new one or modifying an existing one. We know that many schools have been engaging with community work and overseas trips and you are welcome to build on one of these if you elect to adopt it as your EL project.
- You might think about proposing a class visit/educational activity with an NGO like UNICEF, Crossroads, Oxfam, etc. This would involve planning and implementation and would constitute an innovative EL opportunity for you and your school students, if possible. We believe that would help to include a debriefing or consolidation/sharing session with students after the visit to enhance the learning process. We also suggest that you try and negotiate such a project with your school principal or panel chair, in the context of your own professional development and the benefits for your students.
- You might propose volunteering your own time with an NGO (perhaps an organisation you have already worked with, or one you would like to work with). Your EL project does not have to be school-related. It would then be voluntary work between you and an NGO of your choice (or one from the EL website) and you could complete this at any time over the course of the 2-year PT PGDE.