THE IMPACT OF OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ON STUDENTS

Abstract

Students participate in extracurricular activities for various reasons, as these activities contribute to their cognitive, affective, and social development. During this process, both students and teachers have certain expectations regarding the planning and implementation of these activities. In order for extracurricular activities to contribute more effectively to the educational process, it is of great importance to systematically evaluate their effects on students and to understand teachers’ perceptions and expectations regarding these activities. Out-of-class educational activities are considered as practices that include field trips, observations, nature-based activities, museum visits, project-based studies, and learning environments outside the school. Such activities support experiential learning by enabling students to actively participate in the learning process and help relate theoretical knowledge to daily life. In this context, the main aim of this study is to reveal primary school teachers’ views on the effects of out-of-class educational activities on students. As a result, it is seen that out-of-class educational activities constitute an important pedagogical tool that enriches the learning process at the primary school level. Accordingly, it is recommended that teachers include more out-of-class activities in their lesson plans and that school administrations and educational policies support and encourage such practices.