Towards the Best Practices in Teaching and Learning Theatre, Media and Mass Communication Courses: Field Trips as the Panacea

Abstract

This study explores the need and relevance of educational field trips at higher level in the teaching of Theatre Arts and Mass Communication related courses. This study was carried out through survey. The population of this study is made up of students of Department of Theatre and Media Arts Federal Universities Oye Ekiti and Mass Communication Department Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. The ideas and views of students and teachers were sought regarding the importance of educational field trips at higher level in this discipline. One hundred and ten (110) respondents; ten (10) teachers and one hundred (100) students were randomly selected. The questionnaire was used as a research instrument which consisted of 18 items; collected data were analyzed using simple percentages. Ninety seven percent (97%) of the respondents had a view that educational field trip is helpful in advanced learning. Ninety five percent (95%) of the respondents opined that educational field trip helps to give a practical approach for the curriculum and it is helpful to develop more interest in learning among students. It is against this background that this study recommends that educational field trip be adopted as a teaching strategy in higher institutions: particularly in the Arts / Humanities and the Social Sciences.