Opinions of Teachers' Conducting Science Courses Regarding Outdoor Education: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

This study aims to determine the opinions of teachers who conduct science courses regarding out-of-school learning (OSL) environments. The participants who enrolled in this study were designed with a phenomenology research design, consisting of 33 teachers working in public schools in a district of Sakarya province. The interview form was developed by the researchers and used as a data collection tool. The data were analyzed through content analysis. According to the results, the subject area in which most OSL activities are carried out in science lessons is the content of "Living Beings and Life." According to the findings, the teachers emphasized informing the students about the content of science and learning outcomes and preparing a plan before the OSL activities were organized. Besides, they insisted on the importance of the teacher's role as a guide for the students during the implementation of the OSL activities and evaluating the students who made observations during the OSL at the end of the process. Regarding the challenges experienced in implementing OSL activities, issues such as paperwork and official transactions were mentioned during the planning of the activities. Besides, the problems encountered in classroom management, the difficulties experienced in virtual trips, and the disinterested attitudes of the individuals involved in the community awareness activities were also indicated.