Lesson Investigation

Lesson 4

Lassen 4 is mainly talk about learning outside of classroom which specifically learning in

zoos, aquariums, and parks.

I love going to zoos, aquariums and parks when I was little, even now I’d like to spend

time with family and friends in this kind of place. Going to zoos, aquariums and parks is really

fun and we can learn about nature while playing around. The mother earth created so many

fascinating things that need us to explore, to learn about, so we need to protect those heritages by

having the awareness that other lives living in the nature have a tight bond with human beings.

We are connecting, and we are influencing each other.

In the article, the author said visiting aquarium, zoos were offered as an entertainment in

the past time (Milson, J. L. 1990). This is not wrong in some ways because children could really

have fun in the zoos or aquarium because they are just so curious about the outside world.

Compare with the museums and art galleries, zoos and aquariums are deferentially more focus

on the interactions with people and nature instead of learning. Museums have so many things

about culture and humanity which are kind of boring for kids love moving around, instead of

straight learning experience, zoos and aquariums are the experience that more entertaining. But

what if we give it a meaning of learning, it would be more educated and still fun to visit. We can

learn about wildlife animals by going to zoos, and we can see those animals in person which is

more direct than watching videos or reading textbook. Because learners have so much choice

regarding what, where, when, how, and with whom they learn, such experiences are often
referred to as “free-choice learning” (Falk and Dierking, 1998). They will be more interested in

learning in social aspect, so they are more like active learners.

Seeing animals in person allows visitors to connect with nature in a way that, for most of

us, is not possible outside an institution (Yalowitz, S.S. 2004). I can still remember the

excitement I had when I was visiting a zoo. I love seeing those active animals and I can have the

chance to touch the baby lions at the wildlife safari. Students can have the lose investigation on

those animals and be able to learn about nature more. Also, after the visit at the zoo, the visitors

had vivid memories that they will always remember (Packer, J., & Ballantyne, R. 2010). So, this

type of experience can help them understand more about the nature and be responsible for the

environment and the visitors may change their thoughts about the worlds.

And another place to be part of the nature is the parks, they could be the place with lakes

and have picnics, they also could be the place that really be part of the nature and explore the

mystery of life. In the article that talks about the outdoor and healthy behavior gave the

conclusion that the value of nature and parks to human health and well-being that can help

reduce the stress of urban living and promote physical activity and health (Tardona, D. R., etl,

2014). People are just so stressed about the life everyday, so they need a break that can help them

calm down and be healthy. Having outdoor activities is a really god choice because the nature

can help people retain the energy inside and keep them active. And then, they can have a positive

attitude for everything.

 References

Falk, J. H., and Dierking, L. D. “Free-Choice Learning: An Alternative Term to Informal

Learning?” Informal Learning Environments Research Newsletter, 1998, 2(1),

1–2.

Milson, J. L. (1990). Museums, zoos and aquariums partners in teaching and learning. Education,

110(4), 521.

Packer, J., & Ballantyne, R. (2010). The role of zoos and aquariums in education for a

sustainable future. New Directions For Adult & Continuing Education, 2010(127), 25-34.

doi:10.1002/ace.378

Tardona, D. R., Bozeman, B. A., & Pierson, K. L. (2014). A Program Encouraging Healthy

Behavior, Nature Exploration, and Recreation through History in an Urban National Park Unit.

Journal Of Park & Recreation Administration, 32(2), 73-82.

Yalowitz, S.S. (2004). Evaluating visitor conservation research at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.

Curator, 47 (3), 283-297.