Educational Excursions in Preservice Teacher Education: Possibilities for Educating Public School Teachers in South Africa

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Preservice Teachers' Immersive Experiences in International Contexts

Abstract

This paper argues for the use of educational excursions (also known as extended field trips) as intervention to address the key social and pedagogical elements of professional learning in becoming a teacher in South Africa. We argue that the excursion with its specifically crafted curriculum provides opportunities for border-crossing, where the student can come to an understanding of how their past schooling impacts their thinking, experience cultural diversity and inclusion in a safe space and where they can learn to start thinking and acting as a “teacher”. We claim that this assists the neophyte teacher to find their own footing and voice/s as teachers-in-becoming.

Authors

• Nadine Petersen, University of Johannesburg

• Josef De Beer, North-West University