MAKING THE MOST OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES

AND FIELDTRIPS

By: Gessamaine M. Apolinario

BEED II-A

Fieldtrips are expensive. They require much

time to preparation and planning.

Community resources like historical and

scenic spots, museums, zoos, botanical

gardens, places of exhibits can be destinations

for fieldtrips. Other community resources can

be people themselves such as parents, senior

citizens and other members of the community.

List specific objects to be seen on their way to the

site, on the site of fieldtrip an 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.

PREPLANNING WITH OTHERS JOINING THE TRIP

Other people accompanying the group need to be

oriented on the objectives, route, behavior standards

required of everyone so they can help enforce these

standards. These may be parents who will assists

teacher, other teachers and/or school administrator

staff.

TAKING THE FIELD TRIP

Distribute route map of places 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 students have the opportunity to obtain answers to

questions.

• The group participates courteously in the entire trip.

• The guide sticks closely to the list questions.

Were there any unexpected problems which

could be foreseen another time? Where these

due to guides, students, poor planning, or

unexpected trip condition?

Were new interests developed?

Should the trip be recommended to other

classes studying similar topics?

EVALUATING FIELDTRIP

These are questions we ask after the

fieldtrip to evaluate the fieldtrip we just

had.

Could the same benefits be achieved be

other materials? Was it worth the time,

effort, and perhaps, extra money?

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:

The acquisition of lasting concepts and change in

attitudes are rooted on concrete and rich

experiences. Fieldtrips are opportunities for rich

and memorable experiences which are

fundamental to learning that lasts.

Field trips bring us to the world beyond the

classroom. The real-world connection is more work

but the benefits of broadening teaching beyond

textbooks far outweigh the little bit of time takes

from a teacher’s schedule.

Field trips have a range of application. It is not

meant only for children. It is for adults also. It is not

only meant for the social science subjects. It is for all

other subjects as well.

It can bring about a lot of realizations which may

lead to changes in attitudes and insights. The field

trip “can nurture curiosity; build a zest for new

experience, and a sense of wonder.” (Dale, 1969).

Here are some realizations students had after joining a

field trip to the following places.

Prepare a list of questions to send ahead to 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.

DISADVANTAGES OF FIELDTRIPS

1. It is costly

2. It involves logistics

3. It is extravagant with time

4. It contains an element of uncertainty

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

A fieldtrip may be a visit to a scenic spot or to a historical place.

This can be persons and places in the community. There are

other people in the community who can be excellent resource

speakers.

As to places to visit, popular destinations are museum, zoos,

botanical garden, historical places, places of exhibit, scenic

spots.

Performances like play, concert and dance presentations also

form part of community resources.