Field Survey

 

FIELD SURVEY

              Geography is a science to be learnt through observation.  Field study gives us an opportunity to get first-hand information.  Information about physical or economic aspects of our surroundings should be recorded.  Field visit also helps us in understanding man environmental relationship.  That is why such visits are very useful for the students.

A field trip or excursion is a journey by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment.

A field trip is a visit to a place outside the regular classroom which is designed to achieve certain objectives, which cannot be achieved as well as by using other means.

§  Importance Of Field Visit - Students learn the relationship between physical and cultural factors and how man adapts himself accordingly.  They also learn to compare the areas and their activities.  They develop the skill of observation and reasoning.  They get an opportunity to interact with people students develop the feeling of belonging to these regions.

A field visit is very helpful for supplementing the theoretical knowledge we read in our books. It aids to interlink the facts with the practical field and teaches its significance. It builds the interest of the students to get more about the places and the world around us and increase their awareness.

§  Selection Of Field - Different locations can be selected for field visits depending upon the place where we live.   For example, a riverbank, canal or dam is ideal if we want to understand physical features.  If should be a nearby forest for city students.  A village or a factory can also be good places.  These places should be easily accessible so that students can reach theirs easily.

§  Report Writing: - The report should include whatever information they have collected along with their observations while writing a report students should draw sketches, maps, drawing, paste photographs and represent statistical data with graphs if possible.

While writing a report student should follow a certain pattern as given below:

i) Introduction: - Name of the place visited should be given Its location can be marked on a map.  The distance from the school to the place can be calculated.  How they have travelled and what they have observed on the route can be noted down.

ii) Location: - Students should try to find out the relative location of the field.  They should mention if it is located on a hill or a plateau.  If it is village, it’s administrative location can be mentioned.

iii) Physiographic Features: - Physiographic features like relief (Plain, Hill, Plateau, etc.) can be observed.  Water features like rivers, canals, wells or lakes can be noted down.  Students should try to find out the type of soil of the area they are visiting.

iv) Climate:- Climate data like temperature, rainfall, etc. can be collected from the administrative office or a rough idea from the people of that area can be obtained.  This way can give a rough idea of the climate of that place.

v) Land Use: - Students should find out the land use pattern.  They have to check how much are is under agriculture, forests or mining etc.

vi) Population: - Information about people of that area, male, female, age, literate, illiterate and their occupation structure can be collected with the help of a questionnaire.  They can find out standard of living by observing the amenities in that area while making a report about the population some charts or graph can be prepared.

vii) Conclusion  :- Depending on above information, students can write observations about the interrelationship of natural and cultural environment, people’s activities and how they are dependent on the resources available in the area, role of climate on the agricultural pattern, if any.  They should also mention overall experience of their field visit.

§  Merits/Advantages Of Field Visit

1.      Real – World experience: -   It allows students to have a real world experience.  For example, a textbook lesson on the domestic animals can be enhanced by a trip to a local form where the students can clearly see the domestic animals.

2.      Increase in quality of education: -  For example, a biology field trip could take kids on a hunt for hugs or certain type types of flowers.  In this case students can learn more.  Hence it improves the quality of education.

3.      Improvement of the Social relations: -  It is a way to bring the students closer together.  Many field trips combine educational content with team building activities, such as working together to clean a stream that has been polluted.  In fact, it is often a good idea to go on a field trip to help create a bond between the students.

§  Disadvantages Of Field Study

1.      Time Consideration: - Difficulty in preparation and fitting the trip as per the school timetable which takes more time.

2.      Lack of Support from school administration for field trips :-  It means the school can’t afford the materials and sometimes can’t provide financial help for trips.

3.      Poor Student's behavior and attitude:-  Means loss over students sometimes some students don’t listen to the teacher showing their ego, and attitude and do the things in their own ways which causes a trip to be unsuccessful.  Where it affects the other students and the relationship between teacher and students because of the bad attitude.

4.      Shortage of resources and choice of venue:-   Means sometimes the school can’t provide the materials and features and also can’t have the correct material for the trip which causes the shortage of resources and the sometimes students can’t have the choice to pick their own place and they have to agree with the teacher choice which shows students does not have the choice to select the venue.

5.      Medical Risk: -  For example while traveling via vehicle some children gets motion sickness. That people face the problem of omitting, headaches.