The Effect of Field Trips to Informal Learning Environment on Learning of “Classification of Living Things”: Case of the Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of field trips to informal learning environment (Ege University Natural History and Application Center and Botanical Garden and Herbarium Practice and Research Center) on “classification of living things living environment” for 5th grade students’ learning. The field trips carried out in the exploration face of 4E teaching model. Mixed research method was applied in this study. Observation, drawings for explanation of observations, open-ended questions were used for qualitative research and achievement assessments were used for quantitative research as data collection tools. 75 primary school students were selected using a purposive sampling method from 2 primary schools. The results of study showed that field trips to informal learning environment have positive effect on students’ learning. During the visiting time students enjoyed and declared this type of activities should have been more in their lessons. Drawings for explanation of observations and achievement test results showed that they achieved the science concepts. On the other hand, it’s seen Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden as informal learning environment are far away ideal informal learning environment and there are not experts in there or even there are, they are inadequate skills and knowledge to be mentor

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Informal science learning , informal learning environment , 4E learning model

ege journal of education

197

ege journal of education