Field Trip Learning

Field Trip Learning.

- It was introduced in 1827 by George Shillibeer for a Quaker school at Abney Park in Stoke Newington, London, United Kingdom.

- 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 learning is designed to achieve certain objectives, which cannot be achieved as well by using other means.
For example: If the lesson is on “planting rice in paddy field” if there is no hand on experience it is very difficult to achieve the objectives. In such a lesson this strategy is required. Field learning give opportunity for a student’s to get out of the classroom and experience something new. The located place for field trip can be zoos, collages, museums, theater and schools.

Features.

1. Facilitate the learning of abstract concepts. 

2. Motivate students through increased interest and curiosity.

3. Increases student-student and student-teacher social interaction.

4. Develops social awareness.

5. Facilitate the learning of abstract concepts. Taking students on a field trip makes learning more effective as they will be able to gain vast ideas on the topic.

6. Motivate students through increased interest and curiosity. Field learning can add variety to the regular classroom instructional program and they tend to be special and enjoyable learning experiences. As a result, students will develop positive attitudes in students toward related classroom activities.

7. Increases student-student and student-teacher social interaction. Field learning provide an opportunity to involve students, parents, and the teachers in the instructional program.

8. Develops social awareness. Field learning make students aware of learning activities in everyday life. For instance, visits to supermarkets or shopping malls are typical field experiences, which teachers may fail to notice. A well-organized trip to a "normal" place is an excellent method of teaching students to observe, ask questions, and learn in the large classroom. 

Types.

Instructional learning

An instructional learning is a visit by a class or group of classes to a location outside the regular classroom, which is designed to allow the students to achieve specific course objectives, which cannot be achieved as efficiently by other means.  An example of an instructional field trip is a visit to botanical garden to study about different kind of flower.

School contests or festivals.

A school contest is an 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 from more than one class or subject.  An example of a school contest, festival, or evaluation is the school level essay competition. 

Motivational learning trips.

A motivational trip is an 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. The procedures in this guide are for instructional field learning. If you are planning a motivational trip, please note that this requires approval from the General Area Director.

An example of a motivational trip is an end of year visit to Buddha point by a student body. First a teacher must choose the kind of trip to take and then decide on a general location for the trip.

PURPOSES OF FIELD LEARNING STRATEGY;

• Hand on Experiences.
• Cooperative learning.
• Explore   new   environment.
• Building background knowledge.
• Anticipation.
• Facing the real world.

The Principles.

1) An atmosphere of intellectual excitement.

2) An intensive research and knowledge transfer culture permeating all teaching and learning activities.

3) A vibrant and embracing social context.

4) An interactive and culturally diverse learning environment.

5) Explicit concern and support for individual development.

6) Learning cycles of experimentation, feedback and assessment.

Procedural steps;

BEFORE THE TRIP;

• Identify objectives and plan of evaluation for the field learning.
• Select site to be visited and arrange date and time.
• Conduct pre-visit to familiarize yourself with the major features of the field: to find out is it educational, contact person and mobile numbers.

LOGISTICS PLANNING;

• Apply for administrative approval and file requisition for transportation.
• Decide how to assign their learning during the trip and develop schedule list for the day
• Arrange special equipments like cameras and collect money for admission fees if the site demands.
• Inform parents about the trips and take sign concern from the parents.
• Create a list of student names, phone number and name for emergency contact and fist Aid box.

                                                                                    

FIELD TRIP PREPARATION/PER-TRIP DISCUSSION;

• Discuss the purpose of the field trip.
• Show photographs or posters of the site.
•  Set a standard conduct and discuss money usage, lunch plans, dress code and other necessary things.
•  Discuss what observations to be done and how to gather information.
• Overview the field trip schedule.
• Check all the permission slips the day before the trip.

DURING THE TRIP-THE FIELD TRIP; 

• Tell them do’s and don's of the trip.
• Count the number of students.
• Check equipments
• Tell them help each other if they need.
• Let students to work in pairs or in a small group.

Do’s and don’ts of the trip;

Do’s:

1. Let children always be in groups.
2. Tell them to co-operate well in the public.
3. Good behavior on transport.

Don’s:

1. Don’t let them wonder.
2. Walking, no running
3. Don’t let them misbehave.

AFTER THE TRIP-POST FIELD TRIP;

Let student to share their observations and reactions to field trip experiences.

Create classroom bullet in board displaying materials collected while on field trip.

 Let class to compose thank-you letter to those who helped during the field trip and to person who took you for the trip.

EVALUATING THE FIELD TRIP;

• What was the unique educational value in this trip?
• Did students meet the objectives?
•  Was there adequate time?
• Was there adequate staff and adult supervision?
• What might be done differently to be better?
•  What points to be emphasized next time?
•  What problems should be addressed in the future?

Advantages;

Better Grades and Understanding
field trips can result in greater achievement in all subjects. By seeing real-life application of the lessons that they are learning in school, children might be more likely to understand and appreciate the importance and relevance of what they are learning.

Exposure to new things.
Children learn about different professions, ideas and opportunities when they travel outside their own neighborhoods. A field trip can awaken the desire in a child to try new things and pursue previously unconsidered dreams.

New learning environment. 
Field trips also allow the students to learn outside of the classroom. It offer the opportunity to teach the students something new.

Real life experience/Hands-on learning.
One of the biggest advantages to field trips is that they allow students to have a real-world experience School trips are typically designed to support a student's classroom learning experience. A school trip is an ideal place to allow the student to see real-life applications of academic lessons. . Moreover, some field trips integrate actual assignments for students to investigate during the trip.

 Team building

Many field trips combine educational content with team-building activities, such as working together to clean a stream that has been polluted. In fact, it is often a good idea to go on a field trip early in the school year to help create a bond between the students

Disadvantages

Planning

A disadvantage of field trips is that they take an incredible amount of planning. Collection of consent forms and money is normally done by the teacher and adds to an already-packed to-do list. you must make sure that every child has a signed permission form.

Organization:

Many schools prohibit certain field trips due to costs, safety issues or lack of chaperones. It can prove difficult to organize a field trip and make arrangements for students who cannot afford to go, collect parental consent, budget the transportation needs and find enough parents who will supervise.

Behavior/Rules and Structure:

Students may be tempted to wander away from the group, misbehave on the bus or become loud at a museum. Kids need detailed instructions from their teachers and parents before the field trip ever starts. 

It can be challenging to control an entire classroom in new surroundings. It may be difficult for students to focus on the lesson if they are excited about spending a school day outside the classroom.

It is externally difficult to carry out especially when it requires long distance.

It may be a waste of time and resource if not well planned.

Role of a teacher:

1. To select the site
2. Teacher act as facilitators
3. To give necessary information before, during and after trip.

Role of the students:

1. Activate participation
2. Have to be a good listener
3. Should be cooperative
4. Behave properly