High Impact Outdoor and Environmental Studies – Community of Practice

Date & Time:

May 21, 2026 @ 3:30 pm - August 20, 2026 @ 4:30 pm

Join our Community of Practice (CoP) led by experienced Active Educator Ryan Murdock, designed to support Outdoor and Environmental Studies teachers to deliver high-quality, purposeful and engaging programs aligned to VCE expectations. Across six focused online sessions, you’ll unpack what great OES teaching actually looks like - combining curriculum clarity, assessor insight, and practical strategies you can apply immediately.

This six-session online CoP moves beyond theory and into real-world application. Each session focuses on a key element of effective OES teaching—helping you refine your practice, strengthen student outcomes, and build confidence in both classroom and outdoor settings.

Session Schedule & Focus Areas:

21 May – Teaching with Purpose Clarify what the VCE OES Study Design is really asking and design learning that connects environment, student identity, and meaningful outcomes.
4 June – Designing Powerful Fieldwork – Move beyond “good camps” to intentional learning experiences with clear links to key knowledge, skills, and assessment.
18 June – Assessment That Makes Sense – Build confidence in SAC design, feedback, and assessment practices that genuinely prepare students for success.
23 July – Teaching Students to Think Like OES Students – Develop student ability to evaluate, not just describe, through stronger use of command terms and extended responses.
6 August – Relationships, Wellbeing and Outdoor Pedagogy – Leverage outdoor contexts to build engagement, belonging, and positive learning behaviours.
20 August – Leading and Sustaining Strong Programs – Strengthen your role as a leader by building staff capacity, aligning with school priorities, and sustaining quality programs long-term.

Who Is This For?

VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies teachers
Senior secondary Outdoor Education teachers
HPE teachers with Outdoor Education responsibilities
Educators looking to strengthen engagement, assessment, and curriculum design

Built for busy teachers:

No CRT. No travel. Join from anywhere, with sessions designed to fit into your schedule
Live online via Microsoft Teams, making it easy to access from school or home
Easy access: Registered participants will receive a Microsoft Teams link via email one week prior to each session
Small group (20 participants) for real collaboration
National network. Learn alongside educators across different contexts
Ongoing support between sessions in a safe, connected online space
Built by educators. Practical, classroom-ready strategies you can use immediately

This isn’t just another webinar – it’s professional learning you can actually use.

What you’ll walk away with:

A clear understanding of what engagement actually looks like in PE
Practical ways to increase participation and reduce downtime
Confidence to shift from drills to game-based learning
Simple differentiation strategies that work in real classes
More meaningful and manageable assessment approaches
A professional network that extends beyond the sessions

Delivery Details:

Format: Online (live, interactive sessions)
Duration: 6 x 60-minute sessions
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Time: Consistent weekly session time
Group Size: Limited to 20 participants