THE CONTRIBUTION OF FIELD CLASSES TO THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS IN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES

Abstract

Field classes are school activities that involve moving students to non-formal environments, represented by interactive spaces, which are more relaxed than the classroom environment. This study aimed to evaluate how field classes impact the teaching-learning process, supporting the improvement of the learning of theoretical knowledge developed in the classroom. The procedures adopted were based on the action research method, supported by bibliographic survey with subsequent execution of an experiment in the discipline of Apiculture, in regular classes of the Agronomy course. The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, concrete information about the importance of field classes was collected. The second stage consisted of the elaboration and application of tests to verify the contribution of these classes when conducted after traditional classes where theoretical foundations were taught. A pre-test was applied one week after the class on theoretical foundations. A post-test was applied one week after the field class on the same technical subject of the discipline. The results obtained showed significant improvement in the level of understanding of the topic after the field class, and in the post-test the students gave more detailed answers and used technical and scientific terminologies compared to the pre-test besides subsequent improvement in academic performance numerically expressed in the increase in the average grades.