Learning Beyond the Classroom

(Newswire.net — January 12, 2017) Baloi Persero, Batam, Kep. Riau, Batam, Kep. Riau —

 

An educator strives to instill a thirst for knowledge, an unquenchable curiosity, and a desire for lifelong learning within their students. They recognize that although education may begin in the classroom, it extends much further.

In 2004, a resort on an Indonesian island saw the need for beyond-the-classroom learning experiences. Telunas Resorts opened its Telunas Center, to run week-long outdoor learning experiences for school groups on the island. 

“Experiential learning implies that the world is your classroom,” says Gabriella Lopez, trip facilitator at Telunas Resorts. “It takes education to the next level because it allows a student to absorb knowledge more deeply and form meaningful, long-lasting memories and skills using all of the senses. We’re exposing students to the beauty and diversity of the world.” 

The centre offers tailored learning experiences for primary and secondary students. After an initial consultation, a Telunas trip facilitator designs each experience based on the school group’s goals and learning outcomes of the trip. The program is tailored to suit the age, budget, and needs of the group.

The trip facilitator organizes the week’s activities into a sample itinerary centred around themes such as service-learning, cultural immersion, or an outdoor adventure trip. This itinerary comprises of any number of activities including science and environment learning, a writers’ workshop, team building and leadership development, and adventure learning activities—each activity facilitated by trained and experienced staff members.

 

  

Barely keep from jumping off the boat…

With their teacher chaperones, students begin the week arriving by boat, teeming with excitement and welled-up anticipation for the journey ahead. “They can barely keep from jumping off the side of the boat to explore the property and play on the beach. And when they leave, they take with them a trip full of learning, laughter, new experiences, and deeper relationships,” says Lopez.

Some of the more popular itineraries include a two-day service project in a local village, a jungle hike to the island’s famous waterfall, kayaking the Telunas cove, team-building games at the beach, and a make-your-own pizza dinner. A science component is hosted by staff members with biological or environmental science backgrounds. The program concludes with a night of marshmallow-roasting and reflections on the week. 

“One of the best aspects about hosting school groups at Telunas Center is encouraging students to try new things that are beyond their comfort zones,” says Lopez, highlighting a recent trip with Grade 8 students. “They had done three full days of work projects in a local village, and were ending their trip with a day-long jungle hike to the waterfall.”

Discouraged by the rain and the mud, as well as being tired after three days of work, the group was reluctant, to say the least. As the hike continued and the rain persevered, student after student began slipping in the mud, but soon frustration gave way to laughter.

“This was an opportunity for us to encourage and challenge them to soak up the natural world around them,” says Lopez. “Soon everyone was muddy and giggling. After a long, refreshing swim in the waterfall’s cool water, they trekked back to the boat, energized and laughing all the way.

“Our goal is for kids to do things they have never done before in a safe environment, in order to learn more about themselves and the world at large.”

 

Experiencing the world, and themselves… 

Students develop a smorgasbord of skills on any given learning experience, such as the independence that comes from being responsible for their own belongings, cleaning up after themselves, getting a good sleep, and having to be somewhere at a certain time.

Experiences encourage flexibility, adaptability, and the development of social, team-building, and recreational skills.

“Cultural immersion is also a key part of our programs where students learn cultural sensitivity,” says Lopez. “It opens their eyes to the ways the world is experienced by other people. When we take students to neighbouring villages, they fumble through the awkwardness of not understanding the local language together, and explore ways to connect with the people they are visiting and serving. Students learn and work together to figure out what works and what doesn’t. They’re exposed to relevant global issues, and appreciate aspects of another culture that might be lacking in their own.”                                         

To book an outdoor learning experience with the Telunas Center, email experience@telunasresorts.com. A trip facilitator and groups administrator will work with the school trip leader to design a unique program for their school group, based on size, age, budget, and goals.