Role of fieldwork in geography performance: a case study of education students of the University of Nairobi

Abstract

The term "fieldwork" refers to educational and in this sense, geographical activities conducted in a field setting outside the normal classroom environment. It is very key to geographical studies and had previously been mandatory for all students undertaking geography since it has been established that fieldwork enhances the performance of students by translating classroom theories into reality. However, with the introduction of different other modes of learning, some of which do not allow time for fieldwork, not all students have the privilege of being exposed to fieldwork. Coupled with this is the inability of some learners to meet the finance requirements of fieldwork. Using a quantitative approach, this study set out to test the hypothesis that: students who are exposed to fieldwork do not significantly perform better than those who are not exposed to fieldwork at the end of the academic year. The study used systematic random sampling with a random beginning to select geography students in their third and fourth year of study, from the school of education and the school of open and distance learning of University of Nairobi. A total of 170 students were sampled. The examination scores of these students was analyzed using chi square and Pearson product moment of correlation. The study found that fieldwork exposure was effective in improving students’ performance in Geography. This study recommends that; fieldwork should be made mandatory in all Universities where geography is a discipline, and that the Universities find a way of financing the fieldwork so that all students could be exposed to it. Keywords: Fieldwork, geographical activity, normal classroom environment, geographical studies, educational, performance, reconnaissance.