Never before have young people had such a phenomenal amount of information and
demands poured on them through schools, television, the internet, computer
games, etc. Many are without the family structure necessary to guide them.
They desperately need to learn the life skills that will allow them to
assimilate all the different messages and to make informed/responsible choices
and decisions for their future.
This presentation may give you
something to think about. Whilst it is quite long (8 minutes) and aimed
primarily at an American audience, it is well worth taking the time to watch.
Alternatively try this
version which is shorter but less detailed.
Rationale
Deep and profound learning occurs when learners are given opportunities to
challenge themselves and attitudes. Shallow learning occurs through
memorisation of information, but deeper development is achieved when learners
are given the means to reflect and use their intuition in fun and challenging
ways. The wisdom they gain is evident through a deeper understanding of
themselves and others, enabling them to be more motivated learners with
interdependent relationships with peers and adults. The activities Snap
Snap Challenges bring to schools provide opportunities to develop these
important life skills in a memorable and achievable form. Snap Snap
ensures that ‘every child matters’ and lays the foundations for future learning.
The
climate of education is changing. As teachers, we have a moral duty to
prepare our young people for the changing demands of the 21st century and to be an
effective part of a changing economy and workforce. We believe Snap Snap Challenges addresses some of the
missing links that will make the young people of today the effective leaders of the
community and workforce of the future.
How
can we expect our young people to work effectively in groups if we have never
nurtured their ability to communicate and tolerate others?
How
can we expect young people to personalise their own learning if they have never had
the opportunity to discover their own strengths and weaknesses?
How
can we expect young people to make responsible decisions about their own future when
they haven’t been given the chance to explore their own attitudes to risk?
Introduction
The primary concept of Snap Snap Challenges is to make personal development
activities accessible and exciting for young people. All the activities we use
have been designed with this in mind, whether it is fun and interesting
equipment or the stories based around them. They
are not particularly physical or strenuous, but require creative thinking and
communication. They can only be completed by the whole team working
together, giving the young people a sense of accomplishment.
Equipment
All activities are completely mobile and run by a fully trained member of staff.
They can be quickly set up in any suitable space. Preferably outside on grass,
but they are equally suited to playgrounds or school halls if wet.
Transferable Skills
Whilst the sessions are fun and exciting for the
learners, the skills they learn
through them are ultimately transferable to the rest of their education and life
in general. During the sessions they are encouraged to analyse their performance
as part of a team, allowing them to recognise their strengths and develop their
weaknesses.
Tailored Programmes
We have our own programmes designed around a whole day or series of days in a
school either with one class or a rotation of up to four different classes.
However, being teachers ourselves, we are fully aware of the need for
flexibility and the pressures of the curriculum. We like to think that we can
cater for just about any personal development requirement you may have.
Fun
All the
activities and games we run not only have real life skill building qualities but
are also designed to be fun and have a large dose of the ‘Wow factor’.
Safety
Our attention to safety is our top priority at all times. All equipment has been
designed, constructed and over engineered with young people in mind.
