I have been reading about the Create-a-Scape idea (www.create-a-scape.org.uk) – this seems really interesting as it appears to combine use of technology with getting kids outdoors (and I usually hear technology being blamed for keeping children indoors!!). Create-a-Scape involves children using a handheld computer to link sounds, text and images to a digital map, the ‘mediascape’ that is created is then experienced outside. Suggested topics for mediascapes on the website include ‘wildilfe’, ‘environmental feedback’ and ‘migration’. It would be interesting to look at the important sounds, images and places that children include in their mediascapes. I’m not sure if anyone has done any research on this (or similar?) ideas, but there is an evaluation report on the Create-a-Scape project available (http://tiny.cc/szjJz) – the selection of topics that teachers have explored through Create-a-Scape is very interesting; I particularly liked the idea of ‘mapping’ the surface of the moon on the school playing field!!

Tags: children, create-a-scape, Outdoors, technology