Lets go on a Field Trip

This week in lab we went on a field trip to the Palmer Museum of Art in State College. During our trip were were educated on different works of art in the museum and were also set out on a mission to find our own work of art.

While on our field trip we experienced three different types of learning/teaching: lecture, discussion, and exploratory. During the lecture portion we looked at a piece called "Still Life with Grapes." The instructor shared many interesting facts about the painting as well as the content in the painting. She related it to agriculture for us. Since we are agriculture students it is important for us to understand how it can pertain to us. Following the lecture portion we moved upstairs to a very interesting piece called "Harlem Rose." During our discussion based lesson about this piece we were asked to interpret what the art piece meant/ represented. As the students, we related the piece to agriculture ourselves. Some of us said a flower, while others said pinecone. What do you think it looks like?

The third and last piece we looked at was one of our choice. We were each given our own prompt and told to find a piece that related to it. This was an example of the exploratory lesson. It allowed us as students to find a piece that we liked and share it with the class.

During this lab I learned that there is a way to appeal to a variety of learners in a singular lesson. The instructors were able to give information in different ways to fit individual students. I know that it is important to find a way to engage with all students in the class and this is something that I would like to practice when I am a teacher.

Someday when I become an agriscience teacher I want to use an experience like this to show my students how widespread the agricultural industry is. I like the idea of allowing them to make connections and taking them on field trips to places you would not normally think of.

- I hope you enjoyed the additional story this week with Ms. Sweeten!