Week 7 Reflection

In regards to our field trip, I enjoyed the “Taste of the Ancient World” tour. I also liked the activities the tour guide proctored to our class. The activities got the wheels turning in my mind and I was imagining what the ancient cultures and cities looked like and worked like. I also wondered what the people dressed like and what a daily conversation would be like. I think field trips are great for sparking student imagination and are very supplemental to their knowledge and understanding. I think students will better understand and remember a topic if they get to observe and experience what they are learning about. I also liked how Dr. Bland mentioned showing the students the pieces of art that will be visited during their field trip beforehand. I think that would better spark a conversation and take away from the awkwardness of silence when the tour guide first poses a question. It may also allow students to come with up with questions to ask as well as activate prior knowledge they have about the topic. However, I wonder how hard it is to get field trips approved by your school? How is the cost of field trips determined? I also wondered how much freedom we give students while in a museum. What grade can they explore independently? On the other hand, I did not enjoy the distance learning as much. I think it was a little harder to stay engaged. Lastly, I was surprised by how these pieces of art sparked memories of knowledge that I learned years ago! But I was also surprised by how much I couldn’t remember –ouch! Overall, I enjoyed most of the field trip experience and look forward to taking field trips with my future classes!