I was asked by my science instructor to begin class with a blog post about the Great American Teach In and its connections to our Nature's Classroom Experience and an article we read on informal learning. "Informal learning is defined as voluntary learning that takes place outside the traditional classroom environment"(Melber, 2000). I, for one, am a huge advocate for informal learning experiences. I feel like a change of scenery can really rejuvenate your students and give them an alternate perspective of new learning, or help make connections to something previously learned. Unfortunately for my science instructor, we did not have the privilege of seeing a scientist yesterday, but we did have some awesome experiences with speakers that highlighted other subject areas. We had many speakers and activities throughout the school yesterday, but the most meaningful for my students was a presentation given by two lovely ladies from Target's Human Resources Department. This presentation was planned to help give meaning to the student's learning over the last few weeks. Our 5th grade is planning a field study at J.A. Biztown. The curriculum for this trip has been intense for our students because many of the skills they're learning, such as balancing a checkbook or applying for a job, are skills that they have never seen or done before. Although you can "tell" students how to apply for a job or conduct themselves in an interview, it is more beneficial for them to have the experience. The ladies from Target provided the students an opportunity to watch and participate in an actual Target interview, which was successful in helping them complete their job applications to us in the classroom for J.A. Biztown. Although this experience is very relevant to my students, some of the others were not. Some of our other speakers and guests did not provide pertinent information to our students, or did not provide age appropriate or content appropriate information. On our informal learning experience at Nature's Classroom, our guide stressed to us the importance of visiting a site before hand, and doing your own research, before taking your students. Although the Great American Teach in was an on campus informal learning experience, I can see how lack of research on presenters provided some confusion for us as teachers, as well as a lost opportunity to really reinforce some things that our students were learning in their course work. Although the day was successful, it could've been much more meaningful even if we had just met with some of the speakers before had and discussed some possible connections they could've made for our students. The next time I participate in the teach in, I feel that I will be much more prepared to be active in selecting purposeful speakers and presentations for my students to extend their learning.
I agree. Informal experiences can be very powerful for students, and you're right - they can be enhanced when teachers and presenters have an opportunity to collaborate.
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Blog posts on this page are reflections and connections that I make between courses, texts and classroom experience.