Over the Back Fence
What is OtBF?
Over the Back Fence (OtBF) is a school based service-learning project that came about as a result of a collaboration between teachers at St. Joseph's School, Takapuna, New Zealand and the Health Education class at Rosmini College, just over the back fence.
THE PROJECT IS ABOUT OLDER STUDENTS TEACHING YOUNGER STUDENTS
and, students learning to think globally and collaboratively.
There are two parts to the programme:
a. Weekly physical activity lessons (30 minutes), prepared and delivered by the Year 12 students to primary age students (Years 2-6). The emphasis of each lesson (organised in groups of approximately three Y12 students working with a group of approximately six Y2-6 students) is on fitness, sport and movement skill development and fun.
b. Weekly health/wellness/safety messages ( approx, 10 minutes) are planned and 'broadcast' live to primary and intermediate age students using either Skype or Adobe CONNECT.
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Short History in Collaboration:
2010:
Rosmini College Year 12 (16 years) students provided a 30 minute physical activity period once a week for two Year 5-6 (9-10 years) classes at St. Joseph's School, in September and October. Fitness test (see below) scores showed a small improvement after a 8 week period. St Joseph's School and Rosmini College share a common back fence.
Statistics for 2010:
Primary age students--approximately 60.
Secondary age--approximately 25
Schools--2
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2011:
The project was bound to grow. Six classes (Years 3-6) joined in and participated through the 2011 school year. In August 2011 the idea of "why not provide a short health lesson to go along with the physical activity lesson?" was bounced resulting in a week-long (5 lessons Monday to Friday). At least one lesson had to be face to face (in the classroom) another lesson had to be via Skype. Year 12 students prepared and delivered their lessons as a group of three students... some made videos, questionnaires, Powerpoints, and others also did live demonstrations and mini-workshops (e.g. running styles, stretching, etc.).
The OtBF project was shared with teachers attending the NEAL (Northern Education Access Loop) neXpo conference in October and...
...shared whilst walking between venues with a teacher attending the U-Learn Conference in Rotorua and another teacher at the conference reception that evening. It was agreed that perhaps OtBF could be exported to other schools.
Outcomes: Younger students enjoyed participating with the older students to learn new skills, activities and develop their fitness. The older students learned to be more confident and organised in delivery of their lessons. Pre-post fitness results show that the lowest 20% had a marked improvement in fitness: aerobic (beep test); flexibility (sit and reach); power (vertical jump); and abdominal strength and endurance (1-min curl ups). Overall there was an improvement across all scores except in the 1-min curl up test for the Year 5-6 students.
Statistics for 2011:
Primary age students--approximately 180.
Secondary age--approximately 140
Schools--2
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2012:
A walk between conference venues in Rotorua and a reception introduced OtBF to another four schools who have participated through most of 2012. The physical activity lessons still continue with seven classes participating in weekly physical activity lessons at St. Joseph's School, BUT the format of the health/wellness/safety lessons has changed so that each classroom receives one 5-10 minute lesson a week. The lessons are broadcast on Skype or Adobe CONNECT.
The project was shared KnowledgeNet12 and at U-Learn 2012 in Auckland (October)
The project will grow, and become better.
Outcomes: Fitness comparisons in 2012 suggest that there were gains in endurance, leg strength and flexibility, with modest gains in abdominal strength. Teachers sharing their classrooms for the on-line lessons reported excitement in the classrooms as the younger students listened and discussed health issues with the older students. Hearing the message from the older student had as much or more impact on the younger students.
Planning for 2013 has commenced. A focus will be placed on developing a student (Year 12) workbook, improving the quality of lessons and reducing the technical issues associated with the connectivity.
Statistics for 2012:
Primary age students--approximately 300.
Secondary age--approximately 150
Schools--6 (Rosmini; St. Josephs-Takapuna; Matapu-Taranaki; Mangatawhiri-Waikato; Half Moon Bay--Stewart Island; St. Mary's-Mosgiel, Otago.
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2013:
Seeking to find a classroom in Tonga and/or Samoa for our NZ-Tongan and Samoa students to be connected with lead not to these countries (we are still seeking) but through a round about pathway to Fiji and the Cook Islands.
The weekly physical activity lessons continue with six classes participating in weekly physical activity lessons at St. Joseph's School.
The number of Skyped or Connect health/wellness/safety lessons has grown significantly with the number of video lesson schools doubling, outreach to seven other countries and programme replication underway.
One highlight was learning that one parent reported his son seemed to always be talking about the health issues at home, asking questions and questioning their families and communities own health related 'practices'.
The OtBF project was shared again at U-Learn 2013 in Hamilton (October)
Our project will continue to witness growth both in New Zealand and by our Partners in the USA, Cook Islands, India and Australia. It will become better as we learn to harness the technology and receive the buy-in of the older students as they individually can see the benefits of, and the weekly anticipation for their lessons by the young people they teach.
Outcomes: Fitness post-testing has yet to take place.
Planning for 2014 has commenced and a schedule of times and days is available (see November 2013 update). More focus is needed on how we can get our students to buy into improving the quality of their lessons and measuring for understanding of the content. More senior students are expressing interest to repeat and grow their experience with the programme and offer their guidance to the new students. Connectivity is still an issue but speed, clarity and fewer 'no-connections' is getting much better as more schools gain access to UFB and our own operational practices and bandwidth demands are better understood.
Statistics for 2013:
Primary age students -- approximately 480 student.
Secondary age -- approximately 160
NZ Schools (classrooms)-- 11 (17) (Rosmini, St. Josephs, Ahuroa -- Auckland; Matapu, Ohura Valley, Uruti - Taranaki; Mangatawhiri, Piripiri-
Waikato; Tauriko, Reporoa -- Bay of Plenty; Akitio -- Wairarapa)
Non-NZ Classes -- 12
Countries--8 (New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Finland, India, Singapore, Cook Islands, USA.)
Number of on-line lesson minutes per week (approximate) -- At Peak = 185 min/week
Estimated total number of lesson minutes for 2014 = 2,900 min or 48 hours (Note: Three schools have extended lesson times up to 60 mins)
Number of on-line lessons taught (approximately) = 240 lessons
Number of on-line student conferences hosted = 14
Average (minutes) length of on-line student conferences = 55 minutes
Estimated total number of student conference minutes for 2014 = 930 min = 15.4 hours
Estimated total student on-line lesson and conference minutes for 2014 = 3,380 min or 64 hours
2014--Starts Week of February 17th.
