Field Trip

FIELD TRIP

This method requires a visit to the community or places outside the classroom, which can provide rich sources for instruction in courses of Home Science. For example, field trips to the institution working for women, welfare of handicapped children or a visit to food industry can be very informative for various courses. The most important factor in planning a field trip is that it should fit into the teaching plan.

Values of Field Trip

It provides first hand and direct experience of the existing situation, to the students through observation.

It motivates students to learn as they have opportunities to examine materials and obtain new ideas.

A successful field trip involves the following stages:

Planning for the Field Trip: The teacher should visit the place in advance or correspond with the agency or host about the purpose of the trip and decide the convenient day. He/she should prepare students by telling them the purpose of the trip and what information they should seek through enquiry and observation. Students and teacher should together prepare a list of questions to be asked to the host on the field, plan for transport, food, etc. Students should be involved fully in making arrangements for the trip so that they come to know the procedure, problems and hazards in organising a trip.

On Field Procedures: Students can be divided into small groups, if the number is big, so that they can observe and hear better. The host should be introduced to the group. Students should be encouraged to ask questions. Some selected students should be given the responsibility of recording the field trip.

Follow up: The follow-up of a field trip involves writing 'thank you' letters to the host and all others who helped in making the field trip a success.

Students should be asked to submit group or individual reports of the trip in light of the objectives of the field trip as set before.

A discussion on the experiences of various students and how they profited out of the exercise should be carried out in the class. If some material has been collected, then it can be displayed for all to see.

A well planned field trip can help students in applying the knowledge.