Beyond the Classroom
Figure 6. Tirin, "Fitzroy Gardens" June 11, 2005 via Google, Creative Commons Attribution.
The Physical Elements
Learning should go beyond the confines of the classroom and of the school. This might involve learning in the gardens surrounding the school, excursions, and collaborating with the wider community. Excursions allow students novel and stimulating learning experiences, and provide experiential and practical learning opportunities. Learning is enhanced when it takes place in authentic environments, and when information is presented in context. This is usually not the traditional classroom setting (Lave & Wenger,1991). However, too often excursions are not taken full advantage of, and are treated as isolated events. Teachers should instead, take full advantage of these opportunities by creating pre and post excursion activities. When you do this, you are effectively creating a Community of Practice around an excursion or incursion. This practice will move the learning from isolated, one-off events, to more fluid learning without a defined beginning and end point. This transformation from just an excursion venue to a CoP, provides students with 'the opportunity to develop socially and emotionally' (Johnson, 2009) as students engage in rich discussions, develop and strengthen their relationships, and improve school behaviours. Furthermore, Wenger & Lave (1998) suggest that members of a CoP form relationships over time and encourage students to bond together throughout the excursion and beyond. Therefore, students will not only be enhancing the quality of their learning, but also develop relationships that could enhance their self-esteem and social skills. Such transformative learning experiences are important in today’s education.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Research states that excursions are effective and novel pedagogy. For optimal learning, the outcomes of the excursion should be integrated into the teaching program (Michie, 1998). It is an opportunity for teachers to step out of their comfort zone and learn more than they would have being restricted to the school environment and may encourage teachers to use new approaches for other subject areas (Michie, 1998).
Teachers and Students
Excursions provide not only alternative learning strategies for students but also provide teachers with alternative teaching methods. They improve classroom lessons and make learning more interesting and engaging for their students. Therefore, excursions add variety that is beneficial to both student and teachers.
Learning should go beyond the confines of the classroom and of the school. This might involve learning in the gardens surrounding the school, excursions, and collaborating with the wider community. Excursions allow students novel and stimulating learning experiences, and provide experiential and practical learning opportunities. Learning is enhanced when it takes place in authentic environments, and when information is presented in context. This is usually not the traditional classroom setting (Lave & Wenger,1991). However, too often excursions are not taken full advantage of, and are treated as isolated events. Teachers should instead, take full advantage of these opportunities by creating pre and post excursion activities. When you do this, you are effectively creating a Community of Practice around an excursion or incursion. This practice will move the learning from isolated, one-off events, to more fluid learning without a defined beginning and end point. This transformation from just an excursion venue to a CoP, provides students with 'the opportunity to develop socially and emotionally' (Johnson, 2009) as students engage in rich discussions, develop and strengthen their relationships, and improve school behaviours. Furthermore, Wenger & Lave (1998) suggest that members of a CoP form relationships over time and encourage students to bond together throughout the excursion and beyond. Therefore, students will not only be enhancing the quality of their learning, but also develop relationships that could enhance their self-esteem and social skills. Such transformative learning experiences are important in today’s education.
Strengths
- Learning is enhanced when the learning takes place in authentic environments.
- Provide novel and stimulating learning experiences.
Weaknesses
- Excursions require parent permission and some students may be left out.
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Research states that excursions are effective and novel pedagogy. For optimal learning, the outcomes of the excursion should be integrated into the teaching program (Michie, 1998). It is an opportunity for teachers to step out of their comfort zone and learn more than they would have being restricted to the school environment and may encourage teachers to use new approaches for other subject areas (Michie, 1998).
Teachers and Students
Excursions provide not only alternative learning strategies for students but also provide teachers with alternative teaching methods. They improve classroom lessons and make learning more interesting and engaging for their students. Therefore, excursions add variety that is beneficial to both student and teachers.