Field Trips
I have noticed that students get excited about going on a field trip because they get to see the relevence of whta they are doing in class.
Hi Matthew:
Yes, if student know there will be some sort of graded activity or summary they are more going to be more attentive, listen, ask questions, and view their overall experience much more critically than if they are just assigned to "be there".
Reagrds, Barry
Defenitely encourage a summary of their experience. I always like to hear what was a suprise. Sometimes students can be pretty critical, and it is interesting to apply a similar standard to the class or individual at a later time, in an encouraging manner.
Hi Brian:
Great. That follow up is important as it allows you to emphasize key ponts that you think are important but maybe the students missed. It also reminds them of a memorable (and enjoyable) experiece.
Regards, Barry
I think field trips are great for both the instructor and the students because they can see real world applications from the classroom. I try also to facilitate a discussion of what they saw, liked, disliked, etc.
Hi Lionel:
A good point: follow-up after the fields trip. I usually ask the guide to touch specifically on a couple of important topics, but they can put their spin on it. When class reconvenes, I know that there were specific items covered and the students going into it know there will be a quiz, written summary, discussion, or application related to the field trip activity. Just one way to follow up. There are many more, some more comprehensive, others less formal.
Regards, Barry
excellent for them to actually have a taste of the real world.
they usually all show up and are excited about.
than he makes it easy to create an asignment to make sure they are paying attention and have them participating a lot during the field trip.
Hi Rochelle:
Sure, this activity really has te opportunity to open up the eyes of some students. I imagine it could actually change the whole course of a students career. Awesome!
Regards, Barry
I actually love field trips yes of course it does get you out of the class room but, it as well give the student opp. to look into the different fields they can go into.
Hi Robert:
Another benefit to field trips is a chance for the student to become inspired by what they can become if they do their classwork well. I try to have the "tour guide" talk about topics I've give beforehand. In this way, the experience will more closely relate to classroom learning objectives.
Regards, Barry
I think this is true. Mostly I think that the students enjoy that it is something different from from the normal hum-drum class all the while they are getting to experience first hand the career they have chosen.
Hi Oriole:
How about vendors or salespersons? Or a merchandiser from a local prominent store that specializes in higher end fashions? Or the manager of of a prominent fashio store. I suggest these as an intial start.
Regards, Barry
Barry,
I teach fashion design in Nashville; a city that doesn't have a fashion industry. There are a handful of people we can go to for field trips or use as guest speakers.
We are required to provide a field trip or speaker for every class. With a 10 week quarter, and a 5 hour class I find this really imposible to do. Most students have been to the few feild trips we can do in the first two quarters. They would have been on 8 field trips by then. So really by the time they get to me I have no place left to take them.
The few times I did do a field trip, we fell behind in the class work as the feild trip can easily take up 3 hours of a class.
I loved the suggestion on showing the industry using DVD's. I do think this might be the only way I can provide that something extra, although my school doesn't see it that way.
Any suggestions?
O
Hi Laurie:
You've got a good idea there to have your field trip representative write a letter requesting a field trip - more likely to get approved. Students usually like the break in routine and benefit from field trips.
Regards, Barry
I was able to organize 1 field trip for the students last term. All but 1 student showed up and I was very surprised at the enthusiasm afterwards from the students...they even referred some of their own patients to the facility that we visited. This was a great activity, but limitations by the career college make field trips very difficult. I like the idea of having a guest speaker write a formal invitation to encourage the superiors.
Hi Julia:
Field trips, like any media resource shold be balanced in proportion to its contribution to tyhe student learning objectives and instructional plan. For example, lots of trips that yield lesser learning is not good. But one or two very good trips that reinfornce and complement the course topic is probably a good thing. Assigning a grade sometimes also has to be weighed carefully.
Regards, Barry
I agree that field trips are a relevant and critical component of the learning experience. One has to be careful however to balance the frequency of field trips with classroom instruction. I say this because I have noticed there can be tendency to do too many field trips in one given course. How does an instructor balance such needs?
I agree that field trips are a relevant and critical component of the learning experience. One has to be careful however to balance the frequency of field trips with classroom instruction. I say this because I have noticed there can be tendency to do too many field trips in one given course. How does an instructor balance such needs?
Hi Marla:
I can see your institutional environment provides the need for some creative actions to coordinate a field trip for your class. One way might be for you to invite a guest speaker from a site you'd lioke to visit. Then, ask the speaker if is willing to write a special inivitation to your class. This will provide some extra ammunition to give to your superiors.
Regards, Barry
At my institution it is also a tight schedule to try and plan a field trip. Then, you have to go through all the red tape to get it approved. I am at a career college and literally every class period is used to get the students out on schedule.
