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 of the world outside.”

ABSTRACTION

The teachers’ comments given above indicate failure of the field trips conducted. This is definitely the consequence of no planning or if ever there was, planning was done poorly.

What procedures must we follow to avoid the failed study trips described above? Let’s plan. Planning a field trip includes these steps: 1) preliminary planning by the teacher, 2) preplanning with others going on the trip, and 3) taking the field trip itself and, 4) post-field trip follow up activities.

            For preliminary planning by the teacher, Brown (1969) proposes the following:

·         Make the preliminary contacts, a tour on final arrangements with the place to be visited.

·         Make final arrangements with the school principal about the details 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 of questions or other materials which will be helpful in planning with the students.

PREPLANNING WITH STUDENTS JOINING THE TRIP

·         Discuss the objectives of the trip and write them down. The main objectives should be included in the permit slip given to parents and should be consulted later when the trip is evaluated. (Here is sample of Permit Slip)

·         Prepare a list of questions to send ahead to the guide of the study trip

·         Define safety and behavior standards for the journey there and for the field trip site itself.

·         Discuss and decide on ways to document the trip. Everyone is expected to take notes.

·         List specific objects to be seen on their way to the site, on the site of the field trip and on their way home from the site.

·         Discuss appropriate dress. Comfortable shoes for walking are important.

·         Before the field trip, use a variety of learning materials in order to give each student a background for the trip.

PREPLANNING WITH OTHERS JOINING THE TRIP

            Other people accompanying the group need to be oriented on the on objectives, route, behavior standards required of everyone so they can help enforce these standards. These may be parents who will assist the teachers, other teachers and/or school administrator staff.

TAKING THE FIELD TRIP

·         Distribute route map of places to be observed.

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

·         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.

2.    Field trips bring us to the world beyond the classroom.

3.    Field trips have a wide range of application.

4.    It can bring about a lot of realizations which may lead to changes in attitudes and insights.

DISADVANTAGES OF FIELD TRIPS

            These educational benefits can compensate for the drawbacks of field trips, some of each are:

1.    It is costly.

2.    It involves logistics.

3.    It is extravagant with time.

4.    Contains an element of uncertainly.