Field-Based Learning
Field-Based Learning, is the method of teaching and learning that stresses the importance of direct interaction with the environment for one's learning. It not only allows the students with the chance to perform the concepts in a real-life situation but also trains their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Field-Based Learning provides various advantages, such as better retention of the knowledge through the practical activity, the increase of motivation and involvement by real-life experience, and the cultivation of logical thinking and solution skills. Taking a biology student as an example, attending a field study can lead her/him to an advanced comprehension of ecosystems through the fulfillment of the tasks, instead of just textbook learning alone.
Field-Based Learning is a learning methodology that is very different from the traditional classroom education in the since it targets learning through experiences outside the classroom. and thus, students get direct exposure and trial on relevant topics in real principal. Experiences of this type are usually the case at field-based learning while lectures and trusted books are sometimes more common in traditional education. For instance, the learners practically carry out some theoretical concepts by going to the field and doing field research or service-learning projects.
The activities that involve field-based learning are internships, service-learning projects, field trips and research expeditions. As an example, an environmental science class could make a field trip to a local river and test the water that will give them data on the water quality, whereas a history class might conduct oral histories in the community to better understand local culture and heritage. These activities are the practical connections of what the students learned in the classroom to the current real-world situations.
The teachers are permitted to apply the Field-Based Learning strategy by finding out the necessary local resources and setting the partnerships, adjusting the field experiences to the curriculum requirements, and giving the students plenty of time to prepare adequately and do reflection opportunities. By way of illustration, a teacher may interact with a nearby museum to develop a hands-on learning event that intertwines historical themes with the community, which in turn will make it possible for the students to connect their experiential field back to the classroom debates.