Dead Birds, Worms, and Earthquakes: Finding Unexpected Value in Field Trips?

• In Event: Out-of-School Contexts

Abstract

Field trips are not as educational as they could be. To see what happens during field trips, I designed and studied 15 field trips for fifth and sixth grade science classrooms. Data was collected using a variety of methods, during the field trips and during class periods specifically related to the field trips. Preliminary data analysis suggests students expect to see and experience new things on field trips; however, when they do find something of interest, I have evidence to suggest their discoveries yield unexpected value. These meaningful moments are traced across contexts, extending field trips back to the classroom. The data collected may be useful for building stronger educational theories of learning and for designing educational tools and environments.

Author

• Jonathan Boxerman, University of California - Berkeley