Lesson 11: Making the most of Community resources and Fieldtrips

“Field Trips offer an excellent bridge between the work of the school and the work of the world outside.”

Field Trips are expensive. They require much time for preparation and planning. However, considering the intensity and the extent of concrete experiences that come through field trips, we are encouraged to use them Only, if there is no other less expensive but equally effective instructional tool. Preparation and planning for the field trip includes discussions and decisions on what to do before the field trip, during the field trip and after the field trip.

Community resources like historical and scenic spots, museums, zoos, botanical gardens, places, of exhibits can be destinations for field trips. Other community resources can be people themselves such as parents, senior citizens and other members of the community.

Planning a field trip includes these steps:

1.      Preliminary planning by the teacher

2.      Pre-planning with others going on the trip

3.      Taking the field trip itself             

4.      Post-field trip follow up activities

Pre-planning with others joining the trip

- Other people accompanying the group need to be oriented on the objectives, route, behavior standards required of everyone so they can help enforce these standards.

Taking the field Trip

Ø  Distribute route map of places to be observed

Ø  Upon arriving at the destination, teacher should check the group and introduce the guide.

Ø  Special effort should be made to ensure that:

·            The trip keeps to the time schedule

·            The students have the opportunity to obtain answers to questions

·            The group participates courteously in the entire trip

·            The guide sticks closely to the list of questions.

Educational Benefits derived from a field trip

 

            -  Field trips can be fun and educational when they are well executed. They offer us a number of educational benefits:

1.      The acquisition of lasting concepts and change in attitudes are rooted on concrete and rich experiences which are fundamental to learning that lasts.

2.      Field trips bring us to the world beyond the classroom. The real world connection is more work but the benefits of broadening teaching beyond textbooks far outweigh the little bit of time it takes from a teacher’s schedule.

3.      Field trips have wide range of application. It is not meant only for children. It is for adults also.

a.      It can bring about a lot of realizations which may lead to changes in attitudes and insights. The field trip “ can nurture curiosity; build a zest for new experience and a sense of wonder.” ( dale, 1969).

Disadvantages of Field Trips:

            - These educational benefits can compensate for drawbacks of field trips, some of which are:

1.      It is costly

2.      It involves logistics

3.      It is extravagant with time

4.      It contains an element of uncertainty