Domains of Thriving
Observational Tool Overview
The two main goals of the Outward Bound Professional Learning Lab are:
To create a common language and enable an ongoing dialogue about what works best in the field.
To equip staff to systematically observe, coach, evaluate, compare, debate and continuously improve program design and instructional practice.
The Domains of Thriving Observational Tool supports Outward Bound in both of these areas. The tool gives us a common language to discuss best practices, to support Social and Emotional Learning and Character Development within Outward Bound. ​
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The Domains of Thriving is an exciting tool to use, and it takes some practice. The Outward Bound Professional Learning Lab has created an Orientation and a Coaching Training, along with other resources, to help schools, teams and individuals use it most effectively.
The DoT – Coaching Version is designed to be used to support individual staff and instructor teams through coaching on specific rubrics and practices.
DoT Certified Observations are designed to support program and system-level quality improvement by collecting data for evaluation and discussion.
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Certified Observer resources are now found in Thinkific, where you took your initial training or Certified Observer Refresher.
This is the most recent video orientation for the Domains of Thriving. It is the first step for you to take when learning about the Domains of Thriving.
This video helps you to see how the Domains of Thriving and the Outward Bound Educational Framework interact and compliment each other.
Stay tuned...
Development Process
History of Tool Development
The Domains of Thriving, Observational Tool is being developed through a partnership between Outward Bound and the NOAM Institute. These two organizations have worked closely together to create a tool that address the unique needs and strengths of Outward Bound, while also acknowledging and incorporating research from the larger field of social emotional learning.
The tool is grounded in the Clover Model of social emotional development. You can read more about the Clover Model here:
https://www.thepearinstitute.org/clover-model-overview
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In 2017 and 2018, representatives from all 11 Outward Bound schools and OB USA worked closely with the NOAM institute to adapt the Clover Model into a framework for codifying effective staff practices in Outward Bound. As the visual of the development process below shows, countless hours were spend observing Outward Bound programming, discussing best practices, looking at research, and test and improving the tool.
