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The WEA National Office has received a few inquiries regarding the 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0 series included in Section B of the Accreditation Manual and is offering this clarification to aid organizations looking to submit a Self Study for Accreditation. 

 

 

 

Integral to the history and mission of the Wilderness Education Association, the 8.0 series was designed to ensure that Judgment remained the overarching theme that holds the curriculum together.  Judgment is essential to each of the 6 Core Competencies; one cannot be an effective outdoor leader without the ability to apply Judgment and make appropriate decisions within the context of each of the competencies.  View the full description of the 8.0 series here. 

 

9.0 Series - 6 Core Competencies

The 9.0 series encompases each of the 6 Core Competencies that the WEA believes are essential competencies for any person working professionaly in the field of outdoor leadership.  Each of these competencies are further defined to outline more specifically what an outdoor leader should look like.  These competencies include (click links to view the competency definition and components in detail):

The WEA's commitment to education has brought about the 10.0 series that focuses on Assessment and Evaluation at the instructor/evaluator level.  When it comes to assessing and evaluating students in the field and in the classroom there are certain fundamental theories and practices that all instructors/evaluators should have a working knowledge of and be able to implement effectively in each of the competencies that they are evaluating students in.

 

 

It is essential that students not only have the skills and knowledge outlined in the 6 Core Competencies, but they also have the Judgment to make appropriate decisions and implement that competency effectively.  Thusly the 8.0 and 9.0 series go hand in hand when it comes to evaluating each student for individual competency completion and ultimately achieving Outdoor Leader status in the IROL.  To achieve this, students will be evaluated in the IROL via a set of simple rubrics for each competency that include the 8.0 series within each of the 6 Core Competencies.   For example, if a student is being evaluated for the Risk Management competency (9.3) they will be evaluated for the specific components listed in the 9.3 competency in addition to the 8.0 series of Judgment within the context of Risk Management.  Likewise they will be evaluated in the same way for additional competencies if they choose to work towards outdoor leadership status in the IROL.

 

 

An individual who has achieved OL status in the IROL that has accrued the required field days to be listed as an Apprentice can begin working towards completing the requirements of the 10.0 series to be listed at one of the Instructor levels in the IROL.  The 10.0 series is designed to evaluate their ability to assess and evaluate students in a field and/or classroom setting.
Compared to the 'old' WEA format, the 10.0 series is the equivalent of the Apprentice Evaluation where apprentices were evaluated against each of the 18 points in the curriculum.  Within the new system it is quite similar, however the main difference lies in the creation of portfolio artifacts that showcase their assessment and evaluation capabilities separately for each of the 6 Core Competencies.  Within the new levels, Individuals seeking Instructor Level II status will submit portfolio artifacts that shows their assessment and evaluation abilities in all of the 6 Core Competencies.   An individual seeking Instructor Level II will create porfolio artifacts that show their assessment and evaluation abilities in only the 2-5 competencies they are seeking.  The type and format of artifacts are determined by the accredited institution evaluating the portfolio. 

 

 

Institutions submitting Self Studies for Steward Accreditation should choose 2-5 of the 6 Core Competencies that they wish to be accredited for.  For each of the chosen competencies, the Self Study should include information about how the content is covered as well as how students are assessed and evaluated for performance within that structure including the assessment and evaluation of student Judgment in that competency including the minimum artifacts required by the accredited institution (papers, lesson plans, field notes, peer evaluations, etc) that students be required included in their portfolio for evaluation. 

 

Institutions submitting Self Studies for Outdoor Leader Accreditation should should include in the Self Study, for each of the 6 Core Competencies, information describing how the content is covered as well as how students are assessed and evaluated for performance within that structure including the assessment and evaluation of Judgment in that competency.  Also included should be the minimum artifacts required by the accredited institution (papers, lesson plans, field notes, peer evaluations, etc) that students be required inlcuded in their portfolio for evaluation.
Steward Instructor Accreditation: 8.0 & 9.0 Series for all 6 competencies+10.0 series for 2-5 competencies

Institutions submitting Self Studies for Steward Instructor Accreditation should submit all of the content required for obtaining Outdoor Leader Accreditation status.(see above).  In addition, the institution should submit how Assessment and Evaluation content is covered for individuals who are at the Apprentice level in the IROL.  This should cover the 10.0 components for each of the competencies they are seeking Instructor Level accreditation.  In addition to content coverage of Assessment and Evaluation for those competencies, the institution should include how they will assess these Apprentices and also include the minimum artifacts required for submission in the IROL portfolio for evaluation in each of the 2-5 competencies selected. 

 

 

Institutions submitting Self Studies for Outdoor Leader Instructor Accreditation should submit all of the content required for obtaining Outdoor Leader Accreditation status (see above).  In addition, the institution should submit how Assessment and Evaluation content is covered for individuals who are at the Apprentice level in the IROL.  This should cover the 10.0 components for each of the 6 Core Competencies.  In addition to content coverage of Assessment and Evaluation for those competencies, the institution should include how they will assess these Apprentices and include the minimum artifacts required for submission in the IROL portfolio for evaluation in each of the 6 Core Competencies.

 

Ultimately the 8.0 and 9.0 series are inextricably linked in the ultimate goal of identifying students who meet the requirements of the 6 Core Competencies including the ability to apply good Judgment and providing prescriptions for remediation for students who need additional work in one or more competency component.  The 10.0 series is the next step that gives an individual who has not only completed the Outdoor Leader requirements through accredited institutions but has also dedicated time and energy into acquiring field leadership time to move to the Apprentice level in the IROL.  The 10.0 series allows them the opportunity to show their ability to assess and evaluate students in the field with the end goal of being listed as an Instructor in the International Registry of Outdoor Leaders.  The Self Studies are simply the forum for an institution to show how they accomplish this task of educating and evaluating students at various levels.