Out of the Classroom and into the World: Geography and the Wider World

Fieldwork takes children out into the world, to gauge their surroundings and learn from their environment all the while teaching them about the wider world and new ways to better our planet. It is educational enrichment and nature study, valuable skill enhancement and classroom cohesion. It teaches them practicality, builds observation skills and teaches important research techniques for their future.

At Millennium Global International School we believe that education goes beyond the classroom and into the world beyond, and geography does just that by bridging in-class learning and outdoor studies.

Over the last two weeks our kids have been participating in fieldwork studies as part of their IGCSE Geography coursework. They went to Karura Forest to study river environments. They put their practical skills to use and applied their knowledge to prove hypotheses about river channels, physical features and make accurate use of data collection techniques. They measured river variables and linked them to learnt geographical models, applied detailed mathematical skills to analyse their data and found ways to present and interpret it. These are lifelong skills applicable in all manner of research and our students proved they were more than up to the task. And they had fun while doing the work.

The students also travelled through Nairobi City to collect data on environmental quality, pollution and environmental degradation. They analysed land use patterns and linked theories to the practical world. They used maps to study Nairobi, used sampling techniques and gathered ample data to prove and disprove their hypotheses. They learnt how to use maps, about informal employment and land values in the city centre.

All in all a great couple of days was had by all and my goodness, it was very productive. Well done to our Year 11’s and Yr 12’s for showing that education applies beyond the classroom and into the future.

By Mr Javer

Geography Instructor