Approaches to learning

outside the classroom

Submitted by
Praveena L
Department of Physical Science
Introduction
• The traditional view that, out-of school learning refers to learning
through non-formal method in a social environment by using
community resources like hospitals, engineering industries, science
centers, libraries, automobile workshops etc., has undergone change
in recent times. According to modern view, that there is no longer the
need to get information from various community resources from the
places where they are located; but we can learn from our homes by
using computers with internet connection. Hence online learning and
learning through virtual classrooms are also now part of out-of school
learning according to modern educationists.
INNOVATIVE METHODS
• Discussion
• Seminar
• Workshop
• Fieldtrip
• Field Survey
• Project
• Exhibition etc
Discussion
• Discussion is an open forum in which learners can
express their opinions as well as review factual
materials.
• Teachers give a brief introduction of the topic for
discussion.
• Followed by supervised study of the students in
groups or individually.
• Students may study in the class or may be allowed to
go to the library for reference.
Objectives
• Share information.
• Clarify ideas
• Inspire interest
• Promote co-operative learning.
• Identify the different views on problem.
• To get conceptual clarity
• Skill of expression
• Evaluate progress
Types
• Open discussion
• Planned discussion
Open discussion
• Open discussion is one in which the learner determines
the topic
• The role of the teacher is to ask questions that will
lead the learner to consider various ideas.
Planned discussion
The teacher determines the content of the
discussion, plan the questions and guides the
learners towards some predetermined goal.
Advantages Disadvantages

More interactive than Can get very

a lecture confusing

Students have a Not everyone will get

tendency to stay a chance to express
focused their views

May not be as
Can improve grades
effective as a lecture
SEMINAR
• Individual students prepare papers or report
• Present before a group of peers as in the case of
seminar paper presentation.
• Audience critically evaluate the paper and discusses
the findings of the paper.
Advantages
• Testing of students power of comprehension and
evaluation
• Ability to detect and drive the principle from the
context is developed.
• Understanding power and questioning ability in a
relevant situation.
• Self reliance, self confidence, sense of co-operation
and responsibility are developed.
WORKSHOP
• Workshop is an activity oriented
technique
• Group consisting of teachers, students,
administraters may initiate the workshop
in a general session and frame guidelines
for conduct the workshop.
Advantages
• Based on the principle of learning by doing.
• Activity oriented technique.
• Co –operative work.
• Teacher, Students, Administraters work together which
ensure the sharing of ideas and views
• Complicated problem can be easily solved in the
workshop.
• It focuses on the individual talents as well as the efforts of
the group.
Field Trip
Field trip is a visit to an area outside of the
normal classroom where children can try
new things, have different experiences and
learn valuable life lessons.
Field Trip
Field Trip is an important and effective
method for clear out cognitive and affective
gain in the eyes of teachers and educators.
Advantages
• Allow students to collaborate with their peers.
• Explore new environments.
• Solve the problem.
• Develop trust and empathy.
Disadvantages
•More expensive than class learning.
•Venue reservation.
•Boarding cost.
Field survey

Field Survey is an analysis of the

present status about a particular
area.
TYPES
• Local field survey
• Regional field survey
• Geographical field survey
• Historical field survey
• Industrial field survey
• Field survey of animals
• Field survey of Soil
• Field survey of Fauna
• Field survey of Community etc
Objectives
• Promote awareness about learners environment.
• Develop the tendency to survey it and utilize it for
understanding.
• Develop the ability for interpreting the learners
own experiences and observations.
• To develop the ability of co-operation and group
work.
Advantages
• Survey provide high level of general capability
in representing a large population.
• Low cost
• Convenient data gathering.
• No observer
• Precise results
Disadvantages
•Inflexible design
•Not ideal for controversial issues.
•Possible inappropriate of questions
Project method
• Founder – John Dewey
• Popularized by – W.H.Kilpatrick
What is project method?

• Project is the modern method of teaching

in which, the students is given importance
in designing the curricula and content of
studies.
• Learning by doing and learning by living
are the two cardinal principles of this
method.
Steps in Project method
• Sensing a problem
• Defining the problem
• Selection of appropriate methodology
• Data collection
• Process of analysis
• Drawing conclusion
• Evaluation
• Recording
Characteristics of a good project
• Active participation of both teacher and learner.
• Useful and purposeful
• Definite educational value
• Practicable
• Maximum number of activities
• Not so expensive
• Promote investigate ability among the learners.
Merits
• Based upon the laws of learning.
• Law of readiness, law of exercise and law of effect.
• Promotes co-operative activity and group interaction
• Democratic way of learning
• Develop keenness and accuracy of observation.
• A challenge to solve a problem.
Demerits
• Absorbs a lot of time.
• More work on the part of learner.
• Difficult to finish the syllabus in a limited
time.
• Text book and materials are not available.
• It is expensive.
EXHIBITION
Collection of objects, materials relevant
to study.
Advantages
• Based on the principle of learning by doing.
• Learners can observe, criticize and apply scientific laws.
• Picking up the skills by means of participation in the
exhibition.
• Leadership qualities
• Creative spirit among the learners
• Healthy competition among the participants.