Teachers are a really important part of the team who put Online Field Trips together, from coming up with ideas of which foods to cover, to making sure all our content fits into the curriculum.
As we get stuck into the new term of Field Trips, we’ve been finding out what teachers are making of it so far.
Mark Lancaster, Head of School at St Ann’s CE School in London, says: “The idea of doing Tesco Online Field Trips is a fantastic one, particularly where it can link into the school’s curriculum and fit in very nicely with the current ethos of the school around looking at international aspects. It’s a way of bringing what they’re learning in the classroom to life.”
“Unless you can go somewhere close to school, where the children can walk or use public transport, it makes it very expensive,” explains Mark. “Using technology for pupils’ learning is a really exciting prospect and the fact the project itself is so well structured means that it’s really easy for us as schools to get on board and get involved.”
Online Field Trips take place every week, providing access to worldwide locations, with leading industry experts interacting live with classrooms. Talking face to face with a Cornish fisherman or a Costa Rican banana grower is a fantastic opportunity for the children, but they also get to see and interact with each other, too.
Mark and his school are not alone. With lots of schools already registered, many more teachers and pupils are seeing the benefits of the scheme with its hands-on participation, engaging video content and behind-the-scenes access.
Cheryl Miller, who teaches at Niddrie Mill School in Edinburgh, agrees:
“My experience in the past is that [pupils] think carrots come from a tin, so it’s showing them where food comes from, how far it’s come. A lot of children maybe go with their parents to supermarkets, but they don’t necessarily go to farms or factories, so it’s good for them to see the whole process of how the food gets to the shelf. Hopefully, they take this knowledge back to their families, encouraging them to cook the foods and learn more about them.”
As well as the Online Field Trips themselves, teacher-designed, curriculum-based lesson plans and resources – available free of charge on the Resource Hub – consolidate the learning journeys. Want to join in? Sign up to an Online Field Trip this term or browse the resource hub for previous Field Trips and resources.
Using technology for pupils’ learning is a really exciting prospect. The project is so well structured that it’s really easy for us as schools to get on board and get involved
