This experience has been an eye opener in terms of non text responses. I did not realized until Bamfield how much I relied on my Power points, hand outs and paper assessment to teach.
her in the outdoor teaching has to flex around the weather the setting and the surrounding. The student rarely have the the time or means to take notes and there is not room for standardized tests.
Therefore other form of evaluation are required. Student give demonstration and give oral recollection of their learning and teaching is closer to story telling supported by the props and opportunity the surrounding gives us.
It is when the student inquired about the Banana Slug they just found that i was able to teach them about the ecology of slugs and the reproductive system. Being able to touch and observe and kiss the slug made the experience memorable. And since the slug was on a skunk cabbage leaf I was able to tell teach a little bit about botany, and first nation tails/legends.
Using a mix of scaffolding and story telling I asked the student that found the slug to tell the rest of the class what i just told them about the slug and cabbage.
I think in the future I will try to steer my classes away from the standard format of pre-reading, lecture, assignment test and leave room for more teaching moment and exploration followed by discussion and oral assessment on the form of repetition or story telling.