The Reality of Employing the Learning-in-Nature Approach in Teaching Social Studies Education in Oman

The study aimed at identifying the reality of using learning-in- nature approach in teaching social studies education in Muscat Governorate in Oman from the viewpoints of teachers. A related purpose was to examine the impact of gender, teachers' qualification, years of experience, and grade level on teachers' perspectives. The researchers developed a questionnaire consisting of three domains: teachers' knowledge about learning in nature; the benefits of learning in nature; and the challenges that teachers encountering in teaching according to this approach. A total of 85 social studies teachers responded to the questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that teachers' knowledge and practices of learning in nature approach was rated as high while their rating of the benefits of the approach was very high. Yet, they believed that the challenges encountering them in using this approach is moderate. The results also showed no statistically significant effects of gender, teachers' qualification, years of experience, and the grade level on teachers' perceptions related to using the approach. The researchers recommended the necessity of using the learning-in-nature approach in all stages of schooling, in addition, to provide training for teachers to help them implement it in their subject.

CREATIVE WRITING LEARNING IN NATURE SCHOOL2017

This study was aimed to get a picture of creative writing learning in the 4th grade of Sekolah AlamTangerang. This research used an ethnography method. The data were collected through observation, documentation, and interview. The research showed that: (1) The type of syllabus used was a syllabus referring to the SAT curriculum and national curriculum. (2) The formulation of learning objectives was the maturity in creative writing. (3) The materials developed by the teachers included learning to write journal or book report, poem, comic, and article. (4) The strategies, approaches, methods, and techniques used refer to experience from the natural environment. (5) The roles of teachers and students in learning were equally important. (6) The most important infrastructures and learning media were nature-based. (7) The evaluation system used was more concerned with daily assessment. Overall, the creative learning process at the 4th grade of Sekolah Alam Tangerang forms its own cultural theme; that is nature-based learning.