Field trips in UAE: Don't confine school classes to rooms

GEMS Modern Academy students' visit to Antarctica was an eye opener as they learnt the importance of preserving the glaciers there.

The chances of students dozing off in their classroom while reading texts on 'social history of the ancient Romans' is very high. However, imagine the child learning about Roman numerals and formation of democracy in Rome while walking through an interactive museum that teaches them about the Roman history, or when a child relaxes under a tree and reads the texts in a park. Chances are they would understand economy, taxation and role of gladiators in ancient Rome far better than they would in the classroom.
Even though technology has made the modern classroom interactive and full-filled learning environments, UAE school teachers and administrators swear by the greater benefits in the 'field trip learning experience'. According to school leaders, there are several places in the UAE that offer as excellent learning grounds for UAE's social history and geography.
"The Heritage Village by the Shindaga is a great learning ground for UAE culture," said Ranju Anand, Principal and CEO, The Winchester School, Jebel Ali.
Indian High School, Dubai
Ashok Kumar, CEO of Indian High School, said: "School children are benefited through hands-on experience with the facilities, nature and learning in the real atmosphere. These trips serve as an eye-opener and provide a window to the various professions they may choose for future."
He added that students will also be aware of what is happening outside the school and thus their motivation for community service is stimulated through these trips.
According to Kumar, the school gives plenty of opportunities to its students to experience the outside world by taking students for international tours. "Visiting the Golden Triangle and witnessing the Republic Day parade in India, and the US Space Camp in Huntsville (conducted by NASA Astronauts) are two of our permanent destinations," said Kumar. Many other destinations are offered to visit places of interest and of historical importance.
He sad the children have shown holistic development after these trips and they also developed social skills and confidence.
GEMS Modern Academy
According to Rajesh Sinha, senior supervisor of Grade 7 and 8 (Boys) at the Modern Academy, school trips make a child's learning complete when he steps out of his comfort zone.
"We frequently conduct field trips, and international excursions we conduct cater to different aspects of a child's learning and education," said Sinha.
The school has partaken in some memorable trips, including the school orchestra trip to Prague, Salzburg, and Vienna; the social outreach programme tip to Kolkota, India; the Himalayan expedition; and a trip to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research.
The students also paid a visit to Antarctica, which according to the students was a life-changing experience. "For the students, the trip to the icy sheets of glaciers was an eye opener ... They realised that they needed to do everything in their power to preserve ice in the Antarctic as it is," added Sinha.
Winchester School, Jebel Ali
As part of the school calendar and its curriculum, the school prepares itself for local and international trips annually.
"The field trips coincide with the matter in the school's curriculum ... Especially for students to learn about UAE history, natural flora and fauna, several museums in the UAE, a trip on a dhow, and the Heritage Village are must visits," said Ranju Anand, principal and CEO, The Winchester School, Jebel Ali.
The students of the school have also been taken to Rome, Italy; and are planning a field trip to NASA in the coming weeks. "Students from Year 7 and above are taken for international trips and we follow guidelines set by the ministry, and parents are also well informed in advance," added Anand.
 
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Dhanusha Gokulan

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