Preliminary communication
THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF OUTDOOR TEACHING AND FIELDWORK IN BIOLOGY FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER EDUCATION
Irella Bogut
; Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Fakultet za odgojne i obrazovne znanosti Osijek, Hrvatska
Željko Popović
; Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Fakultet za odgojne i obrazovne znanosti Osijek, Hrvatska
Alma Mikuška
; Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Odjel za biologiju, Osijek, Hrvatska
Abstract
The importance of outdoor activities and fieldwork in biology teaching is well known and presented in the faculty curriculum for biology teachers. The value of first-hand experience of the natural environment through the outdoor learning, for both biology teachers and their students, is evident in a wide range of published studies. Observation of the environment and its changes, as well as practical research during the fieldwork, are also crucial for the students of Primary school teachers studies (Faculty of Education) to understand the nature and to be aware of the human impacts on the world. The education of primary school teachers for the outdoor teaching and the fieldwork is very important in today’s society, when children are more focused on indoor activities, mostly due to the technology development (television, video games, and the internet). Our previous research showed that students, and teachers of Primary school education studies have poor knowledge of common plants and animals, even from their close surroundings. There is no comprehensive information about the extent of the fieldwork teaching in biology, as a part of the curriculum for primary school teachers on Faculties of Education in Croatia. We are presenting comparison of existing plans and programs for primary school teachers in Croatia as a starting point for a much complex research on this very important educational issue in the school teacher’s education. We also present some of our experiences in the organization of the outdoor teaching and fieldwork in biology, for students of Primary school teacher study program, as part of the curriculum of the Faculty of Education of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek.
Keywords
outdoor education; fieldwork; biology; primary school teachers
Hrčak ID:
195185
URI
Publication date:
18.12.2017.
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