"Active" Field Studies VS "Passive" Field Studies

• the teacher is a facilitator and resource person VS the teacher/expert is a tour guide

• the field is the source of data VS the teacher/expert is the source of data

• the student is a participant VS the student is an audience

• the student collects raw data and processes it later VS the student collects "processed" data

• the student forms their own conclusions VS the student summarizes the conclusions of others

• skills include observing, recording, classifying, generalizing, summarizing VS skills include listening and note making

• connections are made by the student VS connections are made for the student

• the student’s attention is focused VS the student’s attention is directed

• the student is allowed to discover what there is to see VS the student is told what to see

• end product: knowledge as understanding VS end product "knowledge as content"

• knowledge goes beyond the experience VS knowledge is limited to the experience

Both types of field studies have value, but each type of study provides a different kind of learning experience for the student.