Lesson 11:Making the Most of Resourceful and Fieldtrips

If I were asked to quickly list some instructional tools for teachers, I'd rattle off questioning strategies, concept mapping, and computers—but I doubt that field trips would pop into my mind. Many educators don't take field trips seriously because we associate them with fun. They also have their drawbacks: They're costly, logistically involved, extravagant with time, and contain an element of uncertainty. No wonder kids like them so much. Most teachers still take at least one field trip each

year.

FIELD TRIPS AND OTHER STUDENT TRAVELThe Board recognizes that field trips, when used for teaching and learning integral to the curriculum, are an educationally sound and important ingredient in the instructional program of the schools. Properly planned and executed field trips should:

	A.	supplement and enrich classroom procedures by providing learning experiences in an environment outside the schools;
	B.	arouse new interests among students;
	C.	help students relate school experiences to the reality of the world outside of school;
	D.	bring the resources of the community - natural, artistic, industrial, commercial, governmental, educational - within the student's learning experience;
	E.	afford students the opportunity to study and explore real situations and processes in their actual environment.

For purposes of this procedure, a field trip shall be defined as any planned journey for one or more students away from District premises, which is under the supervision of an instructional staff member and an integral part of a course of study.
Other student travel shall be defined as any planned, student-travel activity that is approved as part of the District's total educational program.
The Superintendent shall prepare administrative procedures for the operation of both field and other District-sponsored trips, including athletic trips, which shall ensure:

	A.	the safety and well-being of students;
	B.	parental permission is sought and obtained before any student leaves the District on a trip;
	C.	each trip is properly planned, and if a field trip, is integrated with the curriculum, evaluated, and followed up by appropriate activities which enhance its usefulness;
	D.	the effectiveness of field trip activities is judged in terms of demonstrated learning outcomes;
	E.	each trip is properly monitored and supervised;
	F.	student behavior while on all field trips complies with the Student Code of Conduct and on all other rules, policies, and procedures set forth by schools;
	G.	a copy of each student's Emergency Medical Authorization Form is in the possession of the staff member in charge...