Field trip show the students the real world working conditions . They see professionals in there field working and are able to experience the enjoyment or excitement of the procedures that they have learned to do in the labs !
James,
Yep, it seems there's nothing quite like a look into the work setting than actually going there and taking a look. I've found students often leave very inspired - something we ought to expect nearly every day.
Barry Westling
I have found that taking field trips and using guest speakers help keep the students motivated towards their overall goals. Also give's students a real life look at their chosen field instead of just text.
Linda,
True. I believe that the well planned field trip in particular can be a memorable experience, leading to the desire to want to learn more, do more, and hope for more as students prepare for their new career or work setting.
Barry Westling
The benefits of making a field trip and having a guest speaker will be a great benefit to the students. It will give them and opportunity to explore new ideas, motivate them to be the very best, and an opportunity to actually see applications.
Ashley,
I agree, the field trip is nearly always a succesful activity, and can be very inspirational and effective in motivating students to want to learn more and perform better in the classroom.
Barry Westling
Working with adult learners gives such a freedom to do things such as field trips, and I think that they are such a positive motivation for students. Many students enter vocational colleges just wanting to do something new or to have an availability to better employment opportunities, but sometimes they pick a field without really understanding what they are getting themselves into and field trips really help to open the eyes of the students.
Jessica,
Boy, can't think of a more applicable field trip for this class. Often the field trip can bring new inspiration and motivation to students.
Barry Westling
I teach Art History and I enjoy taking my students to the Art Museums. My students really appreciate the artwork when viewing these works up close.
Heather,
All great reasons and rationale for consideration of introducing the field trip or guest speaker to the classroom setting. Students rarely complain or give a "bad" report regarding the field trip experience.
Barry Westling
There are many benefits in field trips and guest speakers. It is true that these additions to the class content give real life exposure here are a few more incentives for the student. Taking a field trip or listening to a lecture put on by someone else changes the class setting and makes it more interesting. Lecture and discussion take new form as there is new content and life experience to reflect on. The students see that you as the instructor took the initiative to bring something different into the learning experience which in turn is greatly appreciated. It also gives the learner an idea of what field may or may not be the right fit for them.
Joel ,
Real world touches an inner vsense of "this is something for me". When students feel this, they are more likely to be interested, stay interested, and improve their focus on lessons and assignments based on that spark they received from the touch of real world.
Barry Westling
Jonathan,
Great! Many students have only vague ideas about the career they've chosen. A good field trip can open their eyes, and some even inspired to learn all they can. What a great resource!
Barry Westling
Deborah,
I like to use "daily routine" rather than "daily monotony", but you're right, often someone with a different perspective, or a different setting for learning can add a lively, upbeat spin to the regular lesson material. I've seen student literally turn 180 degrees in interest in the class, based on the experience gained from an infromative field trip!
Barry Westling
Working in a trade/technical school is a great opportunity to expose students the industry. We often have the chance to allow leaders and respected industry professionals to come in and speak, this exposes the students knowledge outside the base of the classroom. Field trips also allow the students to put classroom knowledge to practical application because they see that it is not just something we make them do in school, it's actually done in the real world.
I take my students on a field trip which gives them a real worl view of ingredients and methods used in the industry. Most of them have never tasted or seen most of the items we look at
Having a guest speaker or going on a field trip helps to break up the daily monotony of the lecture/lab routine. It brings excitement and enthusiasm to the students to the classroom, knowing that they get to something "different". The students also get to ask questions to a guest speaker that they might not ask their regular instructor. Guest speakers can bring a different perspective to the classroom.
Jonathan,
It's great this field trip works out for your schedule. I would add that there are many positive merits to good field trips, whether they fit the schedule or not. In fact, in most instances, a field trip will by necessity break up the regular schedue of classes. Not least among benefits is the rejuventation and motivation many students receive after being inspired by what the see, hear, and plan in their mind for themselves in better future ahead.
Barry Westling
I've not done field trips, but the module gave me ideas for one. Because I must be out-of-town on one day (Saturday) I'm teaching, I was thinking about how we are going to make it up; now I know. I'm going to do a whole-Saturday (4 hour class, lunch, field trip) Lunch is essential for a successful field trip -with adults who usually expect to leave class at lunchtime.
I will equip the students with 5x7" worksheets. We will visit some kind of business (perhaps a distribution company); the students will love it.
This is an excellent solution to my problem!!
Tiffany,
Field trips are cool, offering a break from the routine and often giving additional inspiration to some and to others motivation to do better at their studies to be prepared for the work setting they've observed.
Barry Westling
