There’s no denying it, the past two years have been two of the toughest faced by Australian students and teachers. With students engaging in extended periods of remote learning and teachers having to significantly pivot their teaching practice, it’s safe to say that students and teachers are craving a return to the classroom.
But returning from lockdown isn’t as straightforward as just walking back into the classroom, schools play a vital role in supporting student wellbeing and engagement on their return. This takes a variety of forms, from informal checking-in with students to creating a range of in-class activities that allow students to interact and reconnect with others. Re-establishment of positive routines and modelling a positive attitude is another essential practice, as is an active acknowledgement and support of the feelings the last two years have created. More than anything, teachers are working hard to support students to set goals for the future.
As a part of this process, teachers meet to share feedback from the students. This helps teachers to gain an insight into the ‘pulse’ of the students and allows them to work collaboratively to create approaches to support the students in reconnecting to school.
One of the most common things teachers hear from students is that they feel that they’ve missed out and that there is nothing to look forward to. Often this is coupled with the belief that connecting back to school is a challenge not worth taking on. Many of these students have missed key milestones of their schooling experience, year level camp, excursions, sports competitions, formals, and performances. When we ask students what they are most looking forward to most, they often answer “seeing friends and travelling”.
With Australia emerging from 2 years of lockdown, and high rates of vaccination, an educational tour is the perfect vehicle for providing students with the reconnection and sense of freedom that they have so keenly missed.
1. An educational tour provides students with the chance to make memories with their classmates, as well as build new friendships and develop personal skills.
Missing friends is regularly highlighted as something young people have found difficult about lockdown. Additionally, some students have found that their relationships with their classmates have undergone a natural transition during the lockdown period. After a well-supported transition back to school, an educational tour can provide a much-needed opportunity for students to reconnect and engage with their friends. Furthermore, it provides an avenue for discovering new friendships with other students.
Students have also missed the opportunity to engage in a number of activities that are hallmarks of their youth. Camps, excursions, and educational tours are often the events most fondly remembered by students reflecting on their school experience. Attend any Year 12 end of year assembly and you will hear students recount memories of the experiences, sights, and funny happenings of a trip away. An educational tour provides the opportunity for students to reclaim this time with their peers, and make valuable memories that will last a lifetime
An educational tour supports students in their learning, but also provides a valuable personal development experience. During periods of extended lockdown students had to take on heightened levels of responsibility, but often in isolation. An educational tour allows students to harness the skills and resilience that they have developed during this period. Additionally, students can practice implementation of social skills such as teamwork, organisation, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
2. An educational tour allows students to reconnect with the learning and have positive impacts on mental health
For students in eastern states of Australia, there has been significant disruptions to student learning. Whilst teachers have worked tirelessly to provide engaging, meaningful lessons via online platforms, the extended nature of the lockdown has led to many students feeling isolated and disengaged.
Creating experiences where students can learn about key content allows students to make meaningful connections with what they are studying. An educational tour has the potential to reinvigorate student interest and brings learning to life with immersive experiences in the natural wonders of Australia, inspiring and motivating students to re-engage with the curriculum. A hands-on fieldwork experience on the Great Barrier Reef or a tour of wetlands in the Northern Territory allows students to see their curriculum come to life, a welcome respite from the drudgery of lockdown.
After a prolonged period on a screen, time in nature can be extremely beneficial for the mental health of students-and teachers. There is extensive research that supports the positive impact of nature on mental health and engaging in the natural world is a practice actively encouraged by mental health practitioners. A domestic tour of Australia allows students to spend extended periods in some of the most beautiful natural surroundings in the world!
3. An educational tour is a tangible event to look forward to
With vaccination rates rising rapidly and borders reopening, students can look forward to traveling with a high degree of confidence. Knowing that they have a future travel experience gives students something to look forward to, an exciting adventure with friends. This allows students to make plans, practice goal setting and organisational skills in the lead up to the tour.
This will in turn assist students in building a more positive outlook on the future. After missing so much, providing positive, engaging learning experiences for students is essential to supporting their return to school. Involving students in the planning process for an educational tour also supports student voice and promotes actively utilising some of the skills learnt during lockdown, such as personal responsibility and time management.
4. An educational tour provides teachers with the opportunity to form positive relationships with their students
Whilst schooling continued during lockdowns, the experience was far removed from that of the traditional classroom. In many instances, teachers were not able to form strong relationships with students due to the separation created by remote learning, with some teachers facing classes with no camera on, rather, a wall of initials. In a secondary setting, semester subject change over meant that some teachers had only met their students in person for a handful of lessons before remote learning-or not at all.
This has meant that teachers have had limited capacity for relationship building, something that is essential to maintaining a successful and productive classroom dynamic. An educational tour provides the opportunity for teachers to spend extended periods of time in contact with their students, allowing them to connect on a more personal level. It allows teachers to learn more about students’ interests, strengths and weaknesses and goals for the future, as well as work with students to allay any potential stress or anxiety.
It also provides teachers with the opportunity to practice specific skills in relationship building, this is a vital skill, and one that needs constant practice. This is particularly important for graduate teachers who have a significantly disrupted start to their teaching practices in some states. These skills include establishing a rapport, creating meaningful communication practices, managing conflict, and providing wellbeing support.
If you’re looking for a phenomenal educational tour for your students in 2022 you can get in touch with our experienced team.