The PaddlerUK magazine December 2015 issue 5 | Page 23

PADDLERUK

22

Summary
Learning Environment

When looking into these factors there are a
concept of ripples. This analogy that one ripple
effects another is something that comes
through when I reflect on my own learning or
that of students that I have taught. With the
doing comes the feedback but adding in the
verbalising changes the needs, wants and so on.
The ripples also work for me from a depth
point of view. This depth shows that we can
deepen our ‘making sense’ of it or how strong
our ‘want’ is. The notion of depth is one that
Moon (2004) describes when looking at
reflection where it is not just surface level. This
deepening and ‘making sense’ has been evident
in the discussions with peers where the
verbalising our take on something and how we
are applying it has been invaluable in moving my
learning and understanding on. This is also
aided by the peer reviews where making
judgments has deepened our thinking.

What if there is not a ‘need’ or ‘want’ though?
The seven principles give us a framework to help
engage with a learner. By providing the
inspiration and the context where things are
‘needed’ helps the learner by doing and brings
them back into ‘making sense’ of what they have
been doing.This creates the ’need’ for something
and so the ‘want’ to continue can be established.

A question to the coaches:

How do you ensure that the learning environment
you create adheres to the principles of learning?

To finish with here are a series of suggestions that
all learners should adhere to whatever the skill
being learnt -

1. Want to succeed. Be determined to achieve.
2. What are the outcomes and do you
understand them enough to use them?
3. Create some goals along the way to help you.
Every journey needs to start with a small step.
Build it up as go.
4. Don’t avoid doing the things that you don’t
want. Keep going one stroke at a time.
5. Keep records of your feedback. Awesome way
to reflect as well as motivation to see the
improvements.
6. Build up a network of friends to help you and
learn together. Chat with them along the way
about what you learning.
7. Use your friends to help with making
judgments but don’t forget to assess yourself.

These principles and suggestions have become
important to me as a learner and as a coach.
Remember though learning to paddle should be
active and fun!

Happy Paddling and hope to see you
on the water.

Dave Rossetter
Dave is Head of Paddlesports at Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre. He has been
involved in the development of the new awards and provides expert advice throughout the industry on all things
to do with coaching, safety, leadership and personal paddling. He is passionate about all things paddling and
specialises in white water kayak and open canoe where he will most often be found.

http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk