Epsilon Open Archive

An interview study on the utilization of field trips at the Agricultural and Rural Management Diploma Programme at the Swedish University of Agriculture, was carried out within a four week project course in pedagogics. The aim of the study was to gain an insight into the ideas and pedagogical thoughts concerning field trips, from both course managers and students. The study consisted of three individual interviews with course managers and a group interview
with eight students at the Agricultural and Rural Management Diploma Programme. The interview data was put together into a protocol, from which new question categories were created. The interviews revealed that different field trips varied in terms of both planning,
accomplishment and follow-up. The teachers within the study placed great emphasis on creating a good relationship between the University and the industry. Furthermore, the
teachers had a lot of creative ideas and they had thought of, and in some cases even tried to use the field trips in such a way that the students were able to achieve a deeper understanding. The students wanted to have better planned field trips and they also wanted to have a clear goal with the trips so that they are able to focus on the “right” things when they are at the field trips. Furthermore, the students wanted to have a theoretical or practical assignment to perform during the field trip that would help them to connect theory and practice in a good way. The interview study provided a good insight in how teachers and students at the Agricultural and Rural Management Diploma Programme experience field trips. The report can be used as a basis for further discussions among teachers and students which hopefully will lead to well organized field trips designed in a way that students have the opportunity to
achieve a deeper understanding.