Field trips are soooo beneficial to students. It helps to put things into perspective for them. Everything they are learning in the classroom and from their books has now become animated for them and become so real. A lot of times I not only take them on a "Field Trip" but I then ask someone from that organization/business to come into the classroom to talk to them and get their feedback and answer any questions they may have thought of after the fact.
Guest speakers are also just as interesting. Students like to hear people speak who are working in the area that they are studying. Speakers, in my opinion, verify in a positive way what we instructors are teaching and so the students here "Oh yes, that is what Mrs. Matthews told us too!" Both field trips and guest speakers are important parts of instruction for the reasons listed above.
Field trips are soooo beneficial to students. It helps to put things into perspective for them. Everything they are learning in the classroom and from their books has now become animated for them and become so real. A lot of times I not only take them on a "Field Trip" but I then ask someone from that organization/business to come into the classroom to talk to them and get their feedback and answer any questions they may have thought of after the fact.
Guest speakers are also just as interesting. Students like to hear people speak who are working in the area that they are studying. Speakers, in my opinion, verify in a positive way what we instructors are teaching and so the students here "Oh yes, that is what Mrs. Matthews told us too!" Both field trips and guest speakers are important parts of instruction for the reasons listed above.
I use field trips to reinforce the information that we discussed in the classroom with lectures and lab experiences. It presents the information in a practical format - they can actually see how the information applies in everyday situations.
Some of the benefits that my students have expressed included learning how to budget nutritionally and financially when we took a field trip to a neighborhood grocery store to enhance a nutrition module we were teaching.
One of the benefits of guest speakers has been to allow the students another professional in the chosen career field to identify. One of our Oncology modules allowed students to witness a Cancer Journey through a families intimate photo journaling and helped them to develop more empathy and compassion for patients and caregivers.
Hi Van:
You're right, not every scenario would be practical to do a field trip. What about a guest speaker?
What a fun way to break up the monotony of having the same person deliver the instructional material over and over!
Regards, Barry
Hi James:
To echo what you've said here, these are a great way to renew the student's interest in the topics you've been discussing, and possibly gives them a chance to talk with others about the subject as well.
Regards, Barry
Hi Paul:
In many medical training p[rograms there is is a clinical or extern component. How filed trips differ is they offer something the student would not ordinarily see in their day to day clinical experiences. These can be quite memorable. Students can get quite motivated excired about their studies if the activity is well planned or the presenter is exceptional.
Regards, Barry
Hi Victoria:
These activities are so dynamic; they're different the the routine of regular class and students tend to remember the speakers or field trip activity. Many times, these turn out very inspirational for the sthe students, even to the point of impoving student performance.
Regards, Barry
The students get visual ideas of how the workplace works. Listening to guest speakers allows them to ask questions to field experts and get an inside idea of how the industry works. It also allots them the opportunity to inquiry about personal ideas they may want further insight on.
Field trips are very important in my teaching method. I teach surgical technology and most students have never been in an operating room, yet they've learned how to function in one. Putting them in that environment makes them more confident before going to their clinical externships.
students will be more attentibe in class when they're taking out of the normal classroom environment. It will also give teh students a better understanding of the subject matter.
Specific to my program area my students look at art in text materials. Printed works of art on the page aren't nearly as interactive as taking a field trip to an Art Museum. The same lecture material and Q&A is so much more interactive when the students are standing in front of the actual art.
Hi Ed:
Excellent - so what we're talking about is the student gets a renewed perspective of what you've been talking about in class, and this is especially important to maintain when we're dealing with career classes like you are describing.
Regards, Barry
Field trips and guest speakers help the student to visualize and to fully understand the industry that they are studying. Both may help the student to conceptualize the learning experience .
Hi Mary:
Exactly! These are a great way to renew interest in the topics you've been discussing in class, and provides the students with other people to interact with giving a fresh perspective.
Regards, Barry
I strongly agree, I teach Veterinary Technicians and for my students to see the fast paced, multitasking and ever changing field they are entering into is key to their instruction. I also enjoy having the change in scenery!
I agree. Students need to hear about real life experiences.
Guest speakers allow students to interact with people who are in their chosen profession. The guest speaker can help make certain topics in your course become "real". Students interact with me all the time so sometimes when I can bring someone in from outside they get the opportunity to learn and discover even more about their own career path.
Rod Wright
Hi Donna:
Exactly - these can serve to renew interest in the topics you've been discussing in the classroom, and provide another perspective from a different person.
Regards, Barry
I agree. I have used a large number of guest speakers to give students a real life example of what they might expect should they work in that area.
