A Few Rounds of ISSW Speed Dating: Avalanche Education and Learning

The International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW 2024) is ongoing in Tromsø, Norway. If you are unfamiliar with the ISSW, think of a heady gathering for avalanche/snow science academics, professionals, and educators to present their latest research. Consider this ISSW dispatch the speed-dating equivalent of an academic paper and a proper ISSW presentation.

The High Route is attending virtually. On Tuesday, the conference held a session on avalanche education and learning. We’ll explore two papers discussed during the session—one examines the learning experience for avalanche course participants, and the other focuses on instructor perspectives on learning and outcomes.

We intend to present the findings and allow for some metacognition so that collectively, we can better assess what we need to bolster our learning or, if you are an educator, your teaching. Hopefully, in the long run, we all become better, safer partners and better learners and teachers.

The first paper is titled “Participants’ Shared Perspectives on a Season-Long Avalanche Course.” The research here focuses on the learners—the folks taking the course. One intriguing aspect of the study was the longitudinal nature of the avalanche course. This was not your typical weekend long Level 1 or 2 cram session. The students were enrolled in a winter-long course. The course included ~11 field/classroom days, usually in 2-3 day increments (modules), taken intermittently between January and May 2023. The instructors presented the equivalent of a Level 1 and Level 2 curriculum. A year after the course’s conclusion, the researchers met virtually with 8 of ten class participants to reflect on the course and their learning.

The meat of the paper reports on student takeaways and their recommendations for modifying future avalanche courses.

Although not surprising, the findings are useful; they may help create better learning experiences for students andteachers. Tove I. Dahl, the principal investigator and ISSW presenter, showcased the paper’s findings. Here’s what she reported about the “experience themes” teased out during the one-year post-class debrief.