Social Studies Teachers' Views on Learning Outside the Classroom

Abstract

Learning outside the classroom help students interpret their society, nature, and the world through concrete experiences. Although learning outside the classroom is usually used for environmental education, it is very important for the social studies course which aims to train students as active members of a democratic society. The purpose of this study is to understand social studies teachers' views on learning outside the classroom regarding the social studies course. 15 social studies teachers from low, middle, and high socio-economic levels schools in Eskisehir participated in this qualitative study. The data of the study were obtained from semi-structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive analysis. According to findings of the study, the social studies teachers believed that content of the social studies course was suitable for learning outside the classroom. History and geography topics, local administrations, environmental issues, cooperation, and professions were mentioned as the main subjects for learning outside the classroom. Outside learning activities were exemplified as organizing trips in and out of province, and going to the cinema, interviewing with experts and resource people, or inviting them to the school. Teachers experienced problems about time and students' behaviors as well as economic problems, and bureaucratic obstacles regarding outdoor learning.