Lesson 11

Making the Most of Community Resources and Field Trips

   The teacher’s comments given above indicate failure of the field trips conducted. This is definitely the consequences 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.    Pre-planning 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 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.   

   Pre-planning 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 a 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 trip, use a variety of learning materials in order to give each student a background for the trip.

_______________________________________

( Name of School )

PARENT’S APPROVAL and WAIVER

To the Principal of _________________________________________________________ School

                                          (Name of School)

________________________________________________ has my permission to attend the Field Trip           (Name of child/ward)

to/at__________________________________________on Date____________________________

Time_______________________ Under the supervision of __________________________________

I further agree to assume the responsibility of seeing that my child cooperates and conforms to the fullest with the school directions and instructions of the school officials in charges and I hereby free the school authorities from any responsibility for any untoward incident arising from this trip thereby waiving my future claim for damages against the school, provided, however, that the damage or injury incurred is not directly attributable to the negligence of the school authorities themselves.

Signed ______________________________

                                                              (Parent/ Guardian)

________________________________________

                                                            (Address)

________________________________________

                                                             (Telephone/Mobile Phone No.)

Taking the Field Trips

·         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 stunts have the opportunity to obtain answers to questions.

~        The group participates courteously in the entire trip.

~        The guide sticks closely to the list of question.

   Evaluating Field Trip

            These are questions we can ask ourselves after the field trip to evaluate the field trip we just had.

·         Could the same benefits be achieved by other materials? Was it worth the time, effort and perhaps extra money?

·         Were there any unexpected problems which could be foreseen another time?

·         Were new interests developed?

·         Should the trip be recommended to other classes studying similar topics?

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. Field trips are opportunities for rich and memorable experiences which are fundamental to learning that lasts.

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

3.    Filed trips have a wide range of application.

4.   It can bring about 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 which are:

1.    It is costly.

2.    It involves logistics.

3.    It is extravagant with time.

4.    Contains an element of uncertainty.