Dr Duncan Reavey

National Teaching Fellow 2008 Dr Duncan Reavey, Principal Lecturer (Learning and Teaching) at the  University of Chichester, has a teaching philosophy which challenges the learning of theory alone, when so much more can come from living the experience. He puts this point of view into practice in his work with undergraduate and graduate students in subjects as diverse as primary science education, environment and development, sustainability, and  adventure education. His courses are hands-on and minds-on immersion, with students challenged to deliver end-products they think impossible. Duncan challenged 12 student teachers to plan, from start to finish, a one-hour video conference between classes of 10 and 11 year olds in the UK and a South African township. Four days later, after thought, inspiration, teamwork and a punishing (self-imposed) workload from the students, the video conference was a huge success. One of Duncan's students called this challenge "the best experience ever". Partly inspired by this, several University of Chichester courses are now introducing modules to develop students creativity using similar product-based approaches. At University of kwaZulu-Natal, Duncan's work to introduce a highly innovative  Masters programme in Environment and Development "led to a paradigm shift within our University" (Professor Charles Breen, University of kwaZulu-Natal). The programme required the whole cohort to work together to address a complex real-world problem, where they realised they could only succeed if they learned to understand each others academic languages. In the words of Dr Barbara Shaw, environmental educator: "Duncan is both a gifted intellectual and an inspirational learning facilitator. He is one of those rare birds: a creative scientist. He is fired by deep appreciation and concern for the natural world and genuine desire to enthuse others with those feelings." Increasingly Duncan is realising that hearts-on engagement is an essential prerequisite if students are to choose to make good use of their learning. Sunset campfires on the beach and planting trees on bleak winter days really matter, he says! This summer Duncan is hosting school and university visitors from across Europe to explore practical implications of agendas where 'Love it!' comes first before 'Learn it!' and 'Live it!'