Training Log Archive: barb

5 classes.
Grades 3, K, K, K, 1
I made adjustments, new laminated clue sheets, printed cone pix, and created new Easygec files for a 2-animal course. That way, with the younger kids, we can focus on the Clear - Start - Course - Finish - Download cycle until it becomes burned in.

Generally, we're using the electronic timing to develop automated feedback fro the kids so we can focus on guiding and increasing the challenges.

We are evolving a sequence of measurable skills, currently something like

* Staying away from other people
* Moving as a group - herd / flock movement
* Animal impressions
* Go to one animal
* Start - Animal - Home
* Clear - Start - Animal - Home
* Clear - Start - Animal - Animal - Home - Download
= Using the timing system to check that you visited the controls in the correct order (while maintaining inter-personal distance)
* 5-animal courses
* Your time - getting faster
* Memorizing your route
* Drawing or matching the checkpoints to a map
* Geometric pattern map: animal-O; draw locations on map; courses
* Flocking with weaving
* Isometric drawing map: animal-O; draw locations on map; courses
* ISSOM map: animal-O; draw locations on map; courses
* Races and games

Along the way there are so many great conversations.
Example: how does the computer know which course I did?
Example: it gave me a happy face even though I beeped an extra control.
Example: I did orienteering yesterday after school!
Example: This is fun!

SI is used at two phases in the progression: at the very beginning, and once you are up to speed.

SI can actually be taught at any point, but it's nice early on to free up the teacher to focus on other things.

We see a lot of kids. I think the number of kids we're seeing this week is 750; most of them get two orienteering lessons a week for 3 weeks.
And we have 6 rounds of that, so 4500 kids total. Very roughly. 6 lessons each.

That's just in the Cambridge Public Schools. We had a smattering of other programs: a private pod; an after-school class; three after-school public events, a family night score-O.

There are various other developments.

I attended the first meeting of an outdoor education / learning task force.

Older kids can skip or combine some of the steps.

There are other activities, too, that would be good to include, that we have in the past. COVID restricts some of them.

6 classes today. 45 minutes each.

And, I cut myself on the paper cutter. Not badly but I feel like I'm becoming more of a klutz.

Very excited as it looks like I've got a really interesting consulting gig in bioinformatics coming up.

Which makes it even more important to find another person to work at Navigation Games. If you know someone who would be a great hands-on, hard-working ED, willing to deliver programs but also shmooze with funders and develop relationships with school leaders, as well as being experienced with kids' programs, well, send them our way. Volunteer program delivery people would also be great, and we are willing to house interns who can commit to 20-30h/week of volunteer work, and being great housemates.

This afternoon, 3 parallel programs, and I'm delivering none of them.
(1) Newton Community Education (Ethan & Piotr)
(2) Cambridge mini-games (Charlotte & Riley)
(3) Newton pod (Keegan & Chanah)

This morning Charlotte delivered a couple online programs - Wednesday is remote day in the school district, for everyone.

6 PE classes and then (not included) set up for an after-school public family event.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Charlotte both taught classes, in-person and remote, throughout the school day.
I was tired afterward. I am a weak computer person, not a strong school teacher.

The PE teacher leads these little kids in a couple minutes of warm-up exercises - running in place, jumping rope (no rope), and so on - and I am so winded at the end. I am an embarrassment to myself.

Fun seeing the kids, though!

C • Kids 2

Week 1 of a 3-week orienteering unit, taught to all in-person JK, K, 1, 2 and 3 graders at one of the 12 schools in Cambridge that is doing the unit this school year. 5 in-person classes today.

First with Izzy, then with Charlie, Gretchen and Harvey; always with Dave. Middlesex Fells