Learning spaces that are beyond the classroom can refer to incursions and excursions (Johnson, 2009). Incursions are an opportunity for students to leave the classroom setting and engage in a different learning opportunity within the school environment. Additionally, an excursion aims to take students away from the overall school environment and into an outer setting where the resources become tangible to provide students a different overall learning experience (Lorenza, 2009).
These learning spaces allow students to explore a setting beyond what they are regularly exposed to. This is a strong pedagogical advantage as it transforms the content being learnt into a physical context (Lorenza, 2009). Due to this, it allows for students to participate in a community of practice, where they are placed in a motivating and encouraging framework to work towards a common goal (Smith, 2009). Therefore in teaching a content, students’ attention and awareness are heightened and thus, their learning will have more opportunities to develop.
On the other hand, incursions and excursions also contain its disadvantages. These include the time consuming process of organisation – from choosing the most appropriate location/resources to ensuring permission slips are signed and that student safety is maintained at all times. In addition to this, an implication for teaching with this learning space is the school’s overall budget to be able to afford such opportunities for students (Lorenza, 2009). A school’s budget must equally be divided to cater for its most fundamental necessities and resources. Due to this, it may deprive students of this learning space experience.
These learning spaces allow students to explore a setting beyond what they are regularly exposed to. This is a strong pedagogical advantage as it transforms the content being learnt into a physical context (Lorenza, 2009). Due to this, it allows for students to participate in a community of practice, where they are placed in a motivating and encouraging framework to work towards a common goal (Smith, 2009). Therefore in teaching a content, students’ attention and awareness are heightened and thus, their learning will have more opportunities to develop.
On the other hand, incursions and excursions also contain its disadvantages. These include the time consuming process of organisation – from choosing the most appropriate location/resources to ensuring permission slips are signed and that student safety is maintained at all times. In addition to this, an implication for teaching with this learning space is the school’s overall budget to be able to afford such opportunities for students (Lorenza, 2009). A school’s budget must equally be divided to cater for its most fundamental necessities and resources. Due to this, it may deprive students of this learning space experience.
Please click on the images below