Lesson 11

Making the Most of Community Resources and Field Trips

Field trips offer an excellent bridge between the work of the school and the work the world outside.

Experiences of Teachers Regarding Field trips

“I took a group of students to the local museum. We just wandered from corner to corner without anything specific to look for. I was an experience but it did not connect with any specific lesson objective.”

“The whole trip was a mess. Some lost their way and arrived very late. Others arrived at the place much earlier and were inconvenienced waiting for the arrival of the others. Anyway, everybody enjoyed the picnic.”

“The students enjoyed the field trip. But when I asked to relate what they saw to our lesson, they were not able to connect.”

Planning a Field Trip

1. preliminary planning by the teacher

2. preplanning with others going on the trip

3. taking the field trip itself

4. post-field trip follow-up activities

For Preliminary Planning, by Teacher, Brown (1969) proposes the following:

- Make a preliminary contact, tour final arrangements with the place to be visited.

- Make final arrangements with the school principal about the detail of the trip: time, schedule, transportation arrangements, finances, and permission slips from parents.

- Make a tentative route plan, subject to later alteration based on class planning and objectives.

- Try to work out mutually satisfactory arrangements with other teachers if the trip will conflict with their classes.

- Prepare preliminary lists questions or other materials which will be helpful in planning with the students.

- Discuss the objective of the trip and write them down. The main objectives should be included in the permit slip give to the parents and should be consulted later when the trip is evaluated.

Educational Benefits Derived from a Field Trip

1. The acquisition of lasting concepts and change in attitudes are rooted in concrete and rich experiences. Field trips are opportunities for reach and memorable 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 a wide range of application. It is not meant only for children, it is for adults also. It is not only meant for the social science subjects, it is for all other subjects as well.
   
   
4. 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)

Preplanning with Others Joining the Fieldtrip

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. These maybe parents who will assist the teacher, other teachers and/or school administrator staff;

Taking the Field Trip

Distribute route map of places to be observed. Upon arriving at the destination, the teacher should check the group and introduce the guide. Special effort should be made to ensure that :

•       The trips keep to time schedule

•       The students have the opportunity to obtain to answers to           questions.

Distribute route map of places to be observed. Upon arriving at the destination, the teacher should check the group and introduce the guide. Special effort should be made to ensure that :

•       The group participants courteously in the trip

•       The guide sticks closely to the list of questions