Boosting Learning Through Academic Trips
Among the many learning and teaching models done by the modern learning institutions is having academic tours. This enables the learners to understand more the theoretical information given in class to more pragmatic and direct interface with the real world, making learning become more practical.
FOHU supported students are always facilitated by this so that they can gain the field knowledge which then opens their insight, understanding and practical interaction with the real features understudy.
School travel is fast becoming a normal part of a child’s education. Increasingly, schools around the world are incorporating educational trips into their academic calendar
The general consensus shared by experts is that school travel helps to reinforce and expand on classroom learning. It can also help students build soft skills and expose them to new opportunities.
- Reinforce classroom material by exposing students to real-world situations.
At its core, the purpose of the educational system is to prepare children for life as an adult. School is designed to arm students with skills necessary for becoming contributing members of society. School helps build soft skills like teamwork and problem solving, and specific skills such as mathematics and writing.
This practice of skill building traditionally takes place in a classroom environment where the teacher plays an active role in disseminating information and students play a more passive role absorbing and memorizing the information presented.
On the surface, there are no apparent flaws in the traditional classroom environment. But, one major drawback is that this learning environment lacks real-world application. Every student has a unique learning style. Some students are intrapersonal learners who thrive in a classroom environment while others flourish in more social settings. Real-world experience has proven to be a successful learning mechanism for all learning styles.
Real-world experience benefits students of all learning styles. It helps them grasp theoretical concepts taught in a classroom environment, when they interface this during the field study.
- Motivate students in the classroom.
School travel significantly increases student engagement in the classroom. This is because School travel helps students see the big picture. They learn the purpose of education and where their studies can take them. School travel also exposes strengths and helps students build confidence. For example, a child who struggles with essay writing may realise they are a great team leader. By understanding the purpose of education and recognizing their unique strengths, students will return to the classroom more motivated.
- Expose students to new cultures
Exposure to new cultures can significantly benefit a child’s personal development. School travel exposes students’ experiences they wouldn’t usually have access to. Students will gain broader perspectives and learn to be comfortable in unfamiliar situations.
School travel can be more meaningful for students than holiday and leisure travel. Away from family and friends’ students are compelled to step outside their comfort zone. As well as learn, students will meet new people, try new foods, travel foreign places, and so much more.
- A once in a lifetime experience
Giving students an educational experience outside the classroom is a gratifying professional achievement. Organising a school trip is not easy, but the benefits reaped largely outweigh the time and effort involved.
The benefits of school travel include exposure to new cultures, increased confidence, and improved motivation. Not only that, school trips highlight the importance of school and help students identify their unique strengths.
As Kisoro Vision S.S organized the said study tour for four days in many learning environments in areas of Western and Central Uganda, the students under the support of FOHU became part of the highly coveted tour.
Areas visited include:
- Karegeya insulberg in Ntungamo district and the Volcanic plug in Kasese District.
- Hot spring – Ekyitagata in Sheema District.
- Fishing on Lake Edward
- Katwe salt mines
- Cotton ginning at Nyakatonzi
- Kilembe Copper mines
- Queen Elizabeth National Park for fauna and flora
- Irrigation on Mubuku irrigation scheme on river Sebwe.
And so many other feature which were of great interest for purposes of learning and teaching.
