Beyond the Classroom
- kaileeatindale
- Aug 25, 2017
- 3 min read
Learning beyond the classroom is a crucial component of the learning cycle as it provides student’s with the skills and knowledge to become lifelong learners and actively participate and be successful in the boarder community and society, by creating well-rounded students. Learning beyond the classroom is crucial due to the benefits for cognitive, social and emotional development. Excursions give students real-life stimulus to better recognise and understand the theories, concepts, cultures and identities they have explored in the classroom, by providing a sensory learning opportunity where students can explore the reality of the environment. Context, culture and social interaction are all vital factors in education and the learning process is enhanced when information is presented in context. Therefore, learning beyond the classroom is crucial as it is situated learning. The value of learning beyond the classroom as a component of the learning cycle is that students absorb more information when it is delivered in a way that is fresh and contextually relevant to them. The social and emotional benefits of learning beyond the classroom include opportunities to enhance students’ expectations of themselves in academic and social spheres, improve self-esteem, self-confidence, motivation, social behaviours, awareness and interaction. Incursions and excursions provide authentic experiences that the teacher may not be able to provide and makes the learning more memorable and have greater impact on the students.
Strengths for teachers
Caters for different ways of learning
Curricular connections
Educational benefits or opportunities that might exist beyond curriculum.
Potential to increase student motivation and engagement.
Social teachings and benefits – enhance students expectations of themselves in academic and social spheres, improve students’ self-esteem, self-confidence, motivation, social behaviours, awareness and interaction.
Extend upon classroom content – real-life stimulus to better recognise and understand the theories, concepts, cultures and identities that have been explored in the classroom.
Incursions can address misconceptions and warped values in a non-threatening experience that can modify or challenge a student’s belief systems, introduce them to new perspectives, make them more resilient and help them realise they are not alone.
Challenges for teachers
PREPARATION – risk assessment, permission, student lists and medical notifications, communicate with colleagues and other staff, operational considerations for moving a group of students – school uniform (appropriate clothing/footwear), departure and return times, locations, means of transport, lunch and snacks, teachers roles and responsibilities, student-to-teacher ratios, student health and medical conditions, space, seating/standing requirements and any other resource requirements.
Getting the most out of incursions and excursions through pre and post-visit programs. Allowing the time for students to reflect.
As teachers, we may never know what goes on in the minds of our students, socially and emotionally, and even if we do it may sometimes be difficult to address the misconceptions and possibly even warped values – need to be cautious and sensitive.
Strengths for students
Facilitate individual cognitive growth and acquisition of knowledge – learning is social in nature.
Grow into the intellectual life of those around them through excursions and incursions
Caters for different ways of learning
Sensory learning opportunity where students explore the reality of an environment (geographical, mathematic, scientific, social or artistic)
Incursions help make sense of themselves and their surroundings, inspire students to come to school more often.
Excursions give students real-life stimulus to better recognise and understand the theories, concepts, cultures and identities they have explore in the classroom, enhance students expectations of themselves in academic and socials spheres, improve students self-esteem, self-confidence, motivation, social behaviours, awareness and interaction, community appreciation of these social benefits.
Non-threatening experience that can modify or challenge a students belief systems, introduce them to new perspectives, make them more resilient and help them to realise they are not alone.
Challenges for students
Some students like the structure and rigidity of school – it is what they crave and need.
Belief systems may be challenged – need to be open to other perspectives.
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