Science teacher and all around adventurer Lloyd Godson has won a World Teachers’ Day Award for his work in creating and managing an alternative educational strategy called Adventure Day for students at Nautilus Senior College.
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Students who were disengaged from their previous schools attend a series of outdoor based activities that aim to reignite their passion for learning.
The college is a registered and accredited non-government school.
It is an independent school that aims to offer all eligible young people the chance to complete their school education, Mr Godson said.
“We especially aim to include those whose lives may be complicated, challenging or require a particular understanding in order to achieve success,” he said.
“Adventure Day has become a regular feature of Nautilus Senior College's weekly timetable with activities that varying from Amazing Races around Port Macquarie to treks up North Brother Mountain and water activities with Port Macquarie Marine Rescue.”
Lloyd utilises local beaches, wilderness areas and other community spaces for hands on learning activities and incorporates the use of technology, such as drones, to demonstrate to students how technology can be a helpful tool for scientific studies.
Adventure Day has become a regular feature of Nautilus Senior College's weekly timetable.
- Lloyd Godson
The science teacher worked with local service providers to ensure that community was at the heart of the venues chosen and activities attempted, ensuring connection between the students and community, encouraging ownership of their home region of Port Macquarie.
In their previous schools, students had often been excluded from these kinds of activities and found them to be highly stressful but Lloyd's engaging relationship with the students makes them feel valued and trusted and this in turn has lead them to enjoying these days even more. Adventure Day is often referred to by many students as their favourite part of the week at Nautlius.
The activities related to the syllabus outcomes of various subjects including maths, science, geography and PE. The syllabus lessons were incorporated into hands on activities in a natural setting that intensified the students desire to learn.
The planning and preparation for these days was always time consuming and Lloyd completed these tasks on top of his regular teaching load at the school.
In 2018 we aim to provide this and other opportunities to young people primarily aged 15-17 years who wish to complete their education outside a traditional school environment.
