STGA Blue Badge Training Course

Regional Studies of the Highlands and Islands

Rationale

This is one of the six Scottish Tourist Guides Association courses that equip students with a broad understanding of the physical, archaeological and historical character of Scotland. These courses cover a broad and diverse range of subject areas and knowledge necessary for effective tourist guiding.

This course will give STGA students detailed knowledge and critical understanding of all aspects of the Archaeology & History; Physical Environment; Human and Natural Environment and Society, Culture and Institutions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland. The course applies the knowledge and understanding gained in the Core Knowledge Courses to this specific area of Scotland and trains students to present this information to a range of visitors. Students will be able to successfully manage tours on behalf of clients and to operate a successful tourist guiding business. The content is based on the physical evidence in the environment, written sources and oral material and in museums and visitor attractions. Emphasis will be placed on the evidence provided by buildings, sites, monuments, and artefacts and in the interpretation of the landscape. Professional skills are embedded within the course. The core skills needed to become an effective guide are comprehensively developed.

Course aims and objectives

• To explore the significance of Scottish cultural identity
• To provide an overall framework for understanding the relationship between cultural phenomena and their historical origins
• To contextualise and interpret the texts, artworks, music, folklore and buildings that distinguish Scottish culture
• To provide students with an understanding of current political, educational and legal institutions in Scotland
• To apply the knowledge and understanding of core knowledge modules in the geographical environment of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
• Train students in the interpretation of human and physical landscapes, to evaluate it for themselves and make comparisons and connections with other areas of Scotland and the rest of the world.
• To provide the skills necessary for students to work as tourist guides on site, on foot and on a moving vehicle throughout Scotland for individuals or groups of visitors.
• Students will be introduced to the principles of tour management including selection of the most appropriate routes, sites and stopping places, showing understanding of the varied aspects of the area; coach drivers' legal requirements; the interests of visitors and the maintenance of an appropriate time schedule; health and safety requirements.
• To provide the knowledge and understanding of the legal and professional requirements of the running of a small business.

Transferable skills

In addition to the critical thinking and writing skills, this course will equip students with analytical and synthesising skills that could be profitably deployed in the study of humanities and social science subjects as well as in professional tourist guiding, such as evaluating different approaches to and explanations of material, and make critical choices between them, and collecting and synthesising evidence from primary and secondary sources.

The course will equip students with a broad range of skills which are applicable to other areas of the STGA training and provide a range of skills applicable to public speaking and interpersonal skills.

The professional tourist guiding skills and business skills will equip students with skills that could be transferable to other areas of the tourism industry in Scotland and in Europe.

Student intake

The course is aimed specifically at STGA students. While previous specialist knowledge is not required, students are selected on the basis of a minimum academic competence. Students must submit an essay to demonstrate their competence before final admission to the course. Students undertaking STGA training invariably possess a first degree and come from a variety of backgrounds. The course does not assume any previous knowledge but it is expected that students possess the skills adequate to the demands of a level 7course.

Course methodology

The course covers the Archaeology & History, Physical Environment, Human and Natural Environment and Society, Culture and Institutions of the following geographical areas of Scotland: Shetland, Orkney, Northern Highlands, Outer Hebrides, Skye and Lochalsh, Central Highlands, Aberdeen and Grampian, Stirlingshire and Argyll, Inner Hebrides. The course also includes the Practising & Management Skills necessary for a Professional Tourist Guide.

The course will be taught by a combination of lectures, group sessions, mentor sessions, field trips, guided tours, workbooks and CD ROMS. Students are expected to devote an appropriate number of hours to self- directed learning.

Content

1. Lectures on the Archaeology, History and Physical Environment of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland

2. A 9 -day guided coach, walking & site tour covering the following areas: Central Highlands, Aberdeen & Grampian, Northern Highlands, Stirlingshire and Argyll, which will include information on the Archaeology, History, Physical & Human Environment and the Society, Culture and Institutions of the area. Tours are led by qualified Scottish Tourist Guides together with University of Edinburgh Core Knowledge specialists and local experts e.g. Scottish Natural Heritage staff. Student study is based on Workbooks supported by CD ROMS and web based materials.

3. Knowledge and Understanding of the routes and attractions of interest to visitors in the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.

4. Communication and interpretation skills plus the knowledge and understanding necessary to deliver an effective commentary and presentation, including audibility, comprehension, clarity of delivery, coherence of delivery.

5. Practise & develop the skills necessary to provide effective rapport, effective customer care, effective administration, time management, staff management, health and safety requirements, disability awareness and protection and care of sites visited.

6. Knowledge and understanding of the legal and professional requirements for the successful running of a small tourism business

7. Product Knowledge of the Scottish Tourism Industry, including the requirements for preservation and care of sites and visitor access.

8. Tour Management & Planning: Knowledge and understanding necessary to effectively meet the needs of visitors and tour operators (or other clients). This will include the selection of the most appropriate routes, sites and stopping places, showing understanding of the varied aspects of the area; coach drivers' legal requirements; appreciation of visitors' interests and the maintenance of an appropriate time schedule and health and safety requirements.

Organisation of teaching.

The course organiser is Loura Brooks and the Course Director is Rosalind Newlands, a qualified Scottish Tourist Guide, President of the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations and Director of One Step Ahead Training. The course will be taught through a 9-day tour covering the specified areas of Scotland. In addition there will be weekend lectures, practice tours and on site presentations, mentor sessions and group work.

Student assessment and guidance.

Assessment will be both written and oral. The tour plan will constitute 30% of the overall grade, the oral element the remaining 70%. This weighting reflects the fact that oral performance and presentation is the major part of the work as a tourist guide. It is necessary for students to pass both parts to achieve credit in the course.

1. Written Assignment

This will comprise a 2000 word tour plan. Students will be required to plan a set six-day tour of Scotland, which will include three days in the Highland area as well as three days, covered by the Lowland Scotland Course.

Note this is a combined assessment for both of the Regional Studies and Professional skills courses, with separate geographical information but common tour planning requirements.

Students will be required to decide on and include a description of the group, place of origin, ages, abilities and possible interests and the plan itself must take cognisance of the group profile, legal requirements, including drivers' hours and health and safety issues. Students will be required to provide an outline description of various overall themes or general topics to be used during the tour. They must plan each day in detail, including an outline of the significance of points of interest; reference to themes already described in introduction or notes for sub-themes and links to visual clues - top visual priorities and "must tells". In addition students must provide tour management information, including an itinerary with road, timing and mileage/km, contact telephone numbers, addresses and entry fees.

The tour plan will be assessed according to the University Common Marking Scheme.

2. Oral Assessment

This will comprise presentation of material in tour conditions on coach, walk and site. Students will be required to speak at random at various points on a "live" two-day tour of the areas covered by the course. This will include commentary on coach, on site and on a walking tour. They will be required to assume that they are guiding a group of general interest and the other students will act as the group to be guided.

Students will be required to select appropriate commentary for the area, including background information and direct commentary on what is being seen and must demonstrate an accurate knowledge of the Archaeology, History, Physical & Human Environment and the Society, Culture and Institutions of the area. They will also be required to demonstrate effective communication & presentation skills, customer care, health & safety of the group; care of sites visited and effective timing and tour management including liaison with the driver and staff of the sites. They will also be required to demonstrate the Professional Attributes required by a professional guide and adhere to the Scottish Tourist Guides Association Code of Conduct (copy appended).

Students will be assessed by trained STGA Assessors, according the Standards of Performance (copy appended) of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association and will receive a written report on their assessment. All commentaries will be tape-recorded for verification.

3. Verification and Moderation

The assessments will be moderated by the OLL Director, the Course Organiser and the Course Director.

The assessments are to be marked out of 100 using the extended common marking scheme, and using STGA feedback forms. Assignments are moderated by the course organiser and two other members of academic staff, and all marks are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners for OLL, which normally sits in August.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the archaeology, history, physical and human landscape, society, culture and institutions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.
• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the main points of interest of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, including physical features, natural history, sites and visitor attractions
• Use a range of professional guiding, communication and presentation skills in order to interpret the Highlands & Islands of Scotland in accordance with the standards of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association, the professional body for guides in Scotland.
• Critically evaluate ideas and information and select appropriate information for diverse groups of visitors to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
• Critically evaluate solutions and responses to issues and problems which may arise in the course of a tour to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
• Research tours and critically evaluate information, using a range of applications including web based information, publications and original sources
• Run a successful tourism business, supervise others, manage resources, plan tours and take account of environmental and operational issues.
• Deal with ethical and professional issues in accordance with the Scottish Tourist Guides Association, Federation of European Tourist Guides Associations and World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations Codes of Practice.

Feedback and evaluation

Student feedback questionnaires and tutor feedback, in line with standard OLL practice.

Resource requirement

This course will be resourced by OLL, and rooms and equipment will be booked by OLL.

Documentation

Students will be issued with a course handbook outlining the broad learning objectives, information about marking scheme and academic conventions, as well as other support available to them.

Relevant material is also posted on the STGA/OLL training website: www.lifelong.ed.ac.uk/stga

Indicative bibliography

Core Texts

Ballantyne R, Crabtree A, Ham S, Hughes K & Weiler B Tour Guiding Queensland University of Technology Australia 2000
Baxter J; Winpenny D : Aithie P&C OS Scotland Highlands & Islands AA Publishing 1999
Brogden WA Aberdeen An Illustrated Architectural Guide The Rutland Press Edinburgh 1998
Close-Brooks J The Highlands HMSO Edinburgh 1995
Gillen C & Newlands R Shetland University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C & Newlands R Orkney University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C & Newlands R North & West Highlands University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C & Newlands R Outer Hebrides University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C & Newlands R Inner Hebrides University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C & Newlands R Skye University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C & Newlands R Central Highlands University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C & Newlands R Aberdeen & Grampian University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C & Newlands R Stirlingshire & Argyll University of Edinburgh 2004
Gillen C Geology & Landscapes of Scotland Terra Publishing Harpenden 2003
Gillen C Northwest Scotland, Classical Areas of European Geology Terra Publishing Harpenden 2005
McCarthy J An Inhabited Solitude: Scotland, Land & People Chambers Edinburgh 1998
MacDonald A & P The Highlands and Islands of Scotland Weidenfield & Nicholson 1991
Mendrum J, Merritt J & McKirdy A Northwest Highlands, A Landscape Fashioned by Geology SNH Perth 2001
Newlands R Guiding is Fun One Step Ahead Training Edinburgh 2004
Omand D The Grampian Book Northern Times 1987
Omand D The Perthshire Book Birlinn Edinburgh 1999
Omand D The Ross & Cromarty Book Northern Times 1984
Omand D The Caithness Book Northern Times 1972
Omand D The Sutherland Book Northern Times 1982
Prince K The Art of Guiding Frontline Tourism Training Ltd London 1997
Ritchie & Harman M Argyll & the Western Isles HMSO Edinburgh 1996
Ritchie G & Walker B Fife, Perthshire & Angus HMSO Edinburgh 1996
Shepherd I Aberdeen & North East Scotland HMSO Edinburgh 1996
Smith R Discovering Aberdeenshire John Donald 1998
SNH Cairngorms - A Landscape Fashioned by Geology HMSO Edinburgh

CD ROMS

CD ROMS are provided for the following
Area Studies of: Edinburgh & Lothian, Fife, Borders, Aberdeen & Grampian, Inverness & the Great Glen,
STGA Training Course 2004:
Gillen C Interpreting the Environment 2003
Gillen C Interpreting the Physical Environment 2004
Newlands R Architecture 2003
Newlands R Guiding is Fun 2004
Newlands R Igniting the Spark 2004
Newlands R Introduction to Professional Guiding 2003
Newlands R Northern Highlands, Great Glen & Argyll 2003
Newlands R Scotland the Land & the People 2003
Taylor B Guiding in the Natural Environment 2003
McGilp D A Kilmartin Glen 2003

Optional Further Reading

As background reading for the course:
There is a full list of publications in each of the area workbooks by Gillen C & Newlands R, listed above.
Students are expected to consult the relevant guide books for the attractions visited by National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland and private attractions