Abstract:

In the 2022/2023 academic year, we implemented the Natural Science Visits course. The course has been updated and the activities have been changed to adapt them to the student-centred teaching process. The course is aimed at prospective primary school teachers who are in their final year of study at the Faculty of Education. The course allows for a high degree of interdisciplinarity and the use of innovative teaching approaches. Objectives and competences of the course are diverse. Students should be able to co-operate, communicate, develop and link general, professional and special didactic knowledge, develop a sense and awareness of the natural and social environment, national culture, heritage, identity, multiculturalism, and non-discrimination. In addition to the traditional lectures, part of the teaching takes place in various outdoor locations and institutions. Therefore, the course is linked to the financial contributions of the students for the payment of entrance fees, transport costs, etc. In order to update the content so that students can identify with it, to make it suitable for their future professional work and also take into account their social status, we conducted an online survey before the start in January 2023. The questionnaire included questions about expectations and wishes regarding the implementation of the course. Students also had the opportunity to give their opinion on things they consider particularly important to help shape the implementation of the course. We present the results of the questionnaire, on the basis of which we have made the changes and adjustments to the course content. The results show that, on average, students value most that course providers recognise and take into account the differences between students, as well as the ability of course providers to work from the students' needs so that they can develop their science knowledge through the course. They appreciate when course providers provide ongoing feedback on the portfolio during the semester. They expressed that it is particularly important that students are involved in the design of the course. They made suggestions for places they would like to visit as part of the Natural Science Visits course.

Keywords:

Student-centred learning, student-centred learning, Natural Science visits, pre-service teacher education, Science Education.