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Mundahl Explores “Wikifest” in Asia
Director of Experiential Learning Hans Mundahl has just returned from “Wikifest,” an Outward Bound International technology and adventure education conference in Singapore. The seminar focused on social networking tools and experiential education, and New Hampton School’s Junior Urban Adventure and the Burleigh Mountain YouTube channel programs were highlighted as examples of effective electronic media.
Mundahl reported, “There is some really exciting work going on right now, and New Hampton School is ahead of the curve in some areas.”
Mundahl reported, “There is some really exciting work going on right now, and New Hampton School is ahead of the curve in some areas.”
The conference focused on current Internet trends such as “massive publishing,” free global communications, social networks, and opportunities for experiential learning. In typical adventure education fashion, the first day was a ropes course challenge that brought conference participants together and examined communication metaphors in an online world. Subsequent conference sessions focused on topics like building a knowledge base by using wikis (software that allows users to create, edit, and link Web pages easily), hiring and marketing using social networks, and global collaboration using free communication tools.
Mundahl shared one amusing story with other participants concerning parents who read about their children on the Sophomore Expedition blog. “We posted route plans for the expedition but we didn’t really know how many people were interested until the groups came back. We found out that some parents had downloaded the route plans and hiked into the woods to see their children!”
Mundahl sees short- and long-term benefits to New Hampton School coming out of the conference. “Our work at NHS is being seen by a global network of educators who like what they see,” he commented, “but more tangibly we’ll be able to more effectively manage the Strategic Plan, hire instructors for the Sophomore Expedition, and develop curriculum.” He also sees benefits to travel and study abroad programs that could conceivably be sponsored by New Hampton School in coming years. “Imagine if our students studying abroad in India could participate in an Outward Bound course in the Himalayas before going on to their host families. That would really help to extend the experience.”
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Mundahl shared one amusing story with other participants concerning parents who read about their children on the Sophomore Expedition blog. “We posted route plans for the expedition but we didn’t really know how many people were interested until the groups came back. We found out that some parents had downloaded the route plans and hiked into the woods to see their children!”
Mundahl sees short- and long-term benefits to New Hampton School coming out of the conference. “Our work at NHS is being seen by a global network of educators who like what they see,” he commented, “but more tangibly we’ll be able to more effectively manage the Strategic Plan, hire instructors for the Sophomore Expedition, and develop curriculum.” He also sees benefits to travel and study abroad programs that could conceivably be sponsored by New Hampton School in coming years. “Imagine if our students studying abroad in India could participate in an Outward Bound course in the Himalayas before going on to their host families. That would really help to extend the experience.”
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