Field Trip Learning

Introduced in 1827 by George Shillibeer

Field trip is defined as a course-related activity that serves educational purposes and occurs outside of the classroom at a location other than on the campus at which the course is regularly taught. A field trip is a visit to a place outside the regular classroom.

Normally if we take in the consideration of field trip learning, it can be applied to any form of valuable learning  taking place beyond the class room setting. For instance, learning of poetry in an English classroom will enhance students’ approach in hands to eyes coordination for useful retention of knowledge. Because poetry teaching is a very vivid justification of reality for students to learn so field trip learning is one such base for keen learning.

Features of field trip

Since field trip is an excitement factor for the students to learn and explore outside the classroom setting it:

•       Facilitate the learning of abstract concepts.

•       Motivate students through increased interest and curiosity.

•       Increases student-student and student-teacher social interaction

•       Develops social awareness.

Types of Field learning

•       Instructional learning

-          designed to allow the students to achieve specific course objectives

•       School contests or festivals

-          Extra campus activity, which provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate knowledge and skills developed through subject area instruction. Contests, competitions, festivals, or evaluations may involve teams of students outside the classroom.

•       Motivational learning trips

-          Extra-campus activity, which is not a part of a scheduled class. It provides a motivational incentive for the school, club, group, or class and is related to improving the school climate.

Purpose

•       Hand on experiences

•       cooperative learning

•       explore new environment

•       building back ground knowledge

•       anticipation

•       facing the real world

•       Enriches the lives and experiences of the students by taking class rote learning in to the real world.

Principles

•       An atmosphere of intellectual excitement

•       Intensive research and knowledge transfer culture permeating all teaching and learning activities.

•       A vibrant and embracing social context

•       An interactive and culturally diverse learning environment.

•       Explicit concern and supports for individual development.

•       Learning cycles of experimentation, feedback and assessment.

•       Structuring and integrating

•       Freedom for experiment with knowledge without the educational process in its entirety.

Procedure

1. Identify objectives and plans of evaluation for field learning.

2. Logistics planning.

3. Field trip preparation/per-trip discussion.

4. During the trip (Dos and don’ts are the most valid components)

5. after the trip

6. Evaluating field trip

Advantage

•       better grade and understanding

•       exposure to new thing

•       new learning environment

•       real life experience hands on learning

•       team building

•       it enhance the culture exchange

Disadvantage

•       Planning

•       organization

•       Behavior rules and structure

Role of a teacher

•       to select the site

•       act as facilitator

•       make necessary arrangements

•       transportation issues

•       budget and food

•       necessary medication

Role of the students

•       active participation

•       have to be a good listener

•       should be corporative

•       behave properly