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Learning on zoo field trips: The interaction of the agendas and practices of students, teachers, and zoo educators
Author(s) -
Davidson Susan Kay,
Passmore Cynthia,
Anderson David
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
science education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.209
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1098-237X
pISSN - 0036-8326
DOI - 10.1002/sce.20356
Subject(s) - field trip , perception , trips architecture , psychology , pedagogy , mathematics education , class (philosophy) , field (mathematics) , value (mathematics) , political science , mathematics , neuroscience , artificial intelligence , machine learning , parallel computing , computer science , pure mathematics , law
This paper reports on the findings of a case study that investigated the interaction of the agendas and practices of students, teachers, and zoo educators during a class field trip to a zoo. The study reports on findings of the analysis of two case classes of students and their perceptions of their learning experiences during the field trip. The goals, expectations, and perceived outcomes of the trip for students, their classroom teachers, and the zoo educators were elicited through interviews, surveys, student work, and observations. Both cases demonstrated how students placed high value and importance on social interactions with their peers. In addition, classroom teachers' pedagogical practices and the learning agendas they held for their students had a significant influence on students' subsequent learning and perceptions of the experience. This was in contrast to the zoo educators' practices and agendas that appeared not to be significant influences on student learning and perceptions. Implications for field trip planning and implementation are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 94: 122–141, 2010