Planning for Field Trips

Please remember that today is the last day class will meet until Tuesday, April 11. Also remember that my new office location is 622 (right across from our classroom).

TELE Project Information:
1.TELE Project proposals are due today. Make arrangements with me before you leave today's class if you are not turning it in today.
2. Please continue to review the TELE project description and grading rubric to ensure you are doing what is required.
3. According to the TELE project description, you are required to send a TELE Project update via email by Thursday, March 30 and a 2nd update by Tuesday, April 11. One week prior to each due date I will email a series of questions (no more than 5) for you to respond to in order to complete this portion of the project.
4.I will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-1:45 from March 21 - April 6 should you need individual assistance on your TELE project.

Planning for our field trip:
1. On Thursday, March 23 we will meet in the lobby of the Imagine It! Children's Museum at 9:30 am sharp. I will email directions to you prior to the 23rd - or you can search for directions using the museum address: 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30313.
2. You must sign and complete the field trip permission form in order to attend the field trip.
3. Please make sure to bring sufficient funds to cover lunch, parking, etc. Most parking lots accept cash only.
4. Our official field trip will end at 4:00 pm at the Georgia Aquarium.
5. My cell # is: 770-714-5295 should you get lost on your way to or from the field trip.

Enhancing the field trip experience:
Denise Domizi helped us to recall positive and negative field trip experiences, as well as the teaching and learning benefits to both types of experiences. We'll extend that discussion during today's class by using what we learned on Tuesday to plan our trip for March 23.

Before:
1. Spend 10 minutes looking over the Imagine It! Children's Museum website and the Georgia Aquarium website. Make sure to look at them from several perspectives: 1)a teacher planning a field trip, 2)a parent planning a family visit, 3)and a child wanting to visit the location

• What portions of the website help you to plan a visit?
• What would be necessary to know before going on the visit?
• What information is missing?

2. Using the maps of the Children's Museum and the Aquarium - circle specific exhibits you would like to visit.

• Why did you choose those exhibits?
• What do you expect to learn in those exhibits?
• What exhibit did you expect to find but did not?

3. In small groups: find common exhibits your group would like to visit. Share your reasons for your choices (see question #2)

During:
1. During our field trip you will select an observation role: teacher, parent, child. Your task during the field trip is to explore the exhibits you selected during today's class in whatever way you choose: by stepping back and watching other visitors, by fully participating in activities, etc. As you tour the museum/aquarium -- consider how a teacher/parent/child would view the exhibit. Also - notice the technology that is used/not used.
2. You may choose to experience the museum/aquarium as a group or individually.
3. We'll set up times during the field trip to meet for lunch (approx. noon), leave for the aquarium (approx 1:30), etc. - but you will choose on your own how your time is spent.

After: (Due Tuesday, April 11)
1.Once the field trip is complete - you will want to reflect on your experience - from the perspective of the observation role you chose: teacher, parent, or child.
2. Using your observations as well as information from the location websites and the articles on field trips distributed in class - create a pamphlet or brochure for teachers, parents, or children to give them ideas and suggestions for preparing/attending/reflecting on a field trip experience at either the Children's Museum or the Georgia Aquarium (or a combination of the two).
3. It is important that your brochure contain specific suggestions, websites, and other technology resources that will help to "enhance the field trip".
4. You will bring a printed copy of your completed brochure to class on Tuesday, April 11.

Alternative Assignment:
1. If you are unable to attend the class field trip - as an alternative assignment you will need to choose a field trip location on your own: the Georgia Botanical Gardens, the Georgia Museum of Art, etc.
2. Complete the "During" and "After" sections described above by Tuesday, April 11.