A potential value of familiarity and experience: can informal fieldwork have a lasting impact upon literacy?

Scott, Graham W.; Boyd, Margaret

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that an informal field trip can have a lasting impact upon aspects of learning in a primary school context. Specifically, we consider the longer term impact of an informal trip to a rocky shore upon scores achieved in literacy assessments taking place five months after a relevant five months after a fieldwork. Pupils provided with an opportunity to write about organisms that they had encountered during the field trip and with which they were therefore familiar achieved higher literacy levels than those children writing about less familiar animals that had not been encountered during fieldwork. Specific improvement in the ability of the children to use specialised vocabulary and elaborated descriptive were recorded. Our work adds to the growing body of research evidence that demonstrates the benefits of outdoor learning experiences focused upon ecology/biology across the wider curriculum. © 2012 ASPE.

Citation

Scott, G. W., & Boyd, M. (2014). A potential value of familiarity and experience: can informal fieldwork have a lasting impact upon literacy?. Education 3-13, 42(5), 517-527. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2012.731418

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 15, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Oct 23, 2012
• Publication Date: Sep 3, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2018
• Journal: Education 3-13
• Print ISSN: 0300-4279
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 517-527
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2012.731418
• Keywords: Fieldwork; Out of classroom learning; Literacy; Ecology
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/417635
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03004279.2012.731418
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rett20