The First Geography Field Trip Since COVID-19 Began!
Why are Field Trips Important?
Field trips are important because they broaden the educational experience and make a subject more relevant, by putting them in a real-world context. Field trips have the power to enrich and expand the curriculum. They can strengthen observational skills by immersing students into sensory activities, increasing their knowledge in a particular subject area and expanding their awareness of their own community.
As a result, field trips are normally a regular part of the curriculum at Dulwich International High School Suzhou across all subjects. COVID restrictions resulted in a ban on field trips over the last year. As COVID restrictions gradually begin to relax, Dulwich International High School Suzhou took this opportunity to venture out into the wider world on a long-overdue Geography field trip!
Steve Hodgkin Head of Geography
In this short article Steve Hodgkin, the head of Geography at Dulwich international High School Suzhou provides a short report on the first geography field trip that was only possible now that COVID-19 restrictions on educational activities are gradually being lifted.
As this was the first geography trip since the Covid-19 outbreak, the students and staff were all very aware of the need for safety and for the use of face masks.
The objective of the field trip was to ensure that all Y10 IGCSE geography students were able to successfully complete the data collection needed for their coursework assignment. This was a very important field trip, as this coursework will account for 27.5% of their overall grade.
Divided into 3 groups, and accompanied by myself, Ms. Piercy, Ms. and Mr. Winton, Ms. Shi and Mr. Coyle, each student had the opportunity to travel across the Suzhou metro system in order to complete an urban transect of land use, traffic, noise and shoppers.
All students involved were punctual, wonderfully polite and respectful when completing questionnaires with members of the public. We are now about to begin the process of writing up the 2000-word coursework assignment itself, a task which will be completed over the summer break. The support of parents is a vital part of this process, so I would like to thank you in advance for helping students with their assignment skills.
The field trip was a resounding success, and it was great to be able to get out of the school and explore!
