A Practical Study of Geological Field Study by Learning Support : An Example for Expanding of Geological Field Study at Public Schools in Shimane Prefecture

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the methods and effects of the learning support on the geological field studies at elementary and junior high schools. One of the authors cooperated with teachers in charge of the classes at public schools in Shimane Prefecture, which can be classified as "the type II learning support" of Miyashita (2009). This article shows the supporting activities of the Earth Science Laboratory of the Department of Education, Shimane University. The activities were carried out at 23 classes of 17 elementary schools and one class of a junior high school during the period of 2003 to 2008. The authors showed that the type II supporting activities enhanced the skill of the school teachers through the collaboration, and showed that the increasing number of field studies were involved in the earth science learning at public schools.