The usage status of school environments out-of-class in social studies education

As places where learning occurs educational contexts serve for the permanence of learning when they are used effectively. Moreover as social studies program, which has been applied at schools since 2004-2005, adopts constructivist learning approach; the importance of out of class learning activities as well as in class learning activities arises. The purpose of this research is to determine usage status of school environments out of class in social studies instruction. Survey method has been carried out in the research. The teachers who participate the research are the employes of Eskişehir Provincial Directorate for National Education in the primary and secondary school. In the research, 20 social studies and 20 primary school teachers making a total of 40 teachers were interviewed. Along with public schools, teachers working in private schools was included in the study because of the thinking that private schools may differ from public schools in terms of out of class school environments. In data collection, one of the qualitative data collection techniques, semi-structured interview technique was used. In order to get the data, an interview form was developed and then administered to participants in 2012-2013 academic year. Data was analyzed by utilizing descriptive analysis technique. In the research, most frequently stated out of class school environments are school garden, library, gymnasium, multipurpose hall, corridor, laboratory, social studies classroom. Examination of teachers' views about their usage of out of school environments reveals that they benefit from out of class school environments considering appropriateness of content, time and school's physical structure. When teachers' reasons for not using these environments were examined, physical inappropriateness of school to use these environments, adequacy of classroom environment, curriculum overload, planning problems and crowdedness of students take notice. Most of social studies and primary school teachers have indicated positive views on the possible contributions of usage of out of class school environments to social studies instruction. Teachers have stated that these environments provide long-lasting learning to the students, concretize knowledge, present possibilities for learning-by-doing, contribute to socialization of students and present possibilities for extra-curricular activities. Similar perspectives emerge on the social studies and primary school teachers' opinions about problems that obstruct usage of out of class school environments. Teachers think that problems such as inadequacy of physical structure of schools, student crowdedness, lack of time, curriculum overload, and lack of planning limit them. Besides, the fact that there are no activities organized for these environments in instructional program and teacher books is considered to be another limitation. It can be concluded that suggestion of teachers towards effective use of out of class school environments in social studies instruction are generally parallel to the problems. Especially, the major opinions expressed are the need to design schools' physical structure in a way to enhance instruction, decrease number of the students per class and decrease the density of curriculum. Keywords: out of class school environments, social studies, primary school teacher, environments of education instruction.