Abstract
Learning outside the classroom (LOtC) activities are part of pedagogical methodologies that are currently applied in the development of student skills. The objective of this study is to determine the perceptions of faculty and undergraduate students concerning industrial visits and define the advantages and disadvantages of these activities. A survey was designed with 17 questions, from a sample of 296 students and 32 professors from various chemistry and sustainability courses. The statistical samples correspond to a population of 2275 students and 246 professors. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and compare participant perceptions on industrial visits, as LOtC activities. Results indicated a positive perception for making industrial visits, generating more interest in the class material and helping students acquire knowledge. Despite this positive perception, it was found that professors are unlikely to organize industrial visits frequently due to the work required to plan, perform, and evaluate these activities. This issue suggests that approximately 40% of the students may lose the advantages that LOtC activities could offer. Professors must be motivated and supported by administrators to include industrial visits in their courses as a teaching strategy to provide a beneficial experience to the majority of students enrolled in chemistry and sustainability undergraduate programs.
Highlights
It is common for instructors, nowadays, to use different methodologies and pedagogical strategies to encourage their students to develop skills that will serve them in their academic and professional performances
Of the 181 students who reported having made an industrial visit during their course work, 150 (83%) reported that their greatest motivation to accept the invitation for an industrial visit was to develop knowledge, and be up-to-date with the methods and procedures currently used in the chemistry industry
The professor responses showed that the majority of the 14 professors who had not organized industrial visits had not been involved in this learning activity outside the classroom due to a lack of time (12 of the 14 professors (86%) gave this response)
Summary
It is common for instructors, nowadays, to use different methodologies and pedagogical strategies to encourage their students to develop skills that will serve them in their academic and professional performances. One of the most utilized methods to promote better learning outcomes is known as learning outside the classroom (LOtC) This method has become popular at different educational levels. It can be used through teaching strategies, such as the inverted classroom [1], problem-based or project-based learning [2], professional practices [3], or industrial visits [4], among others. Educators use these pedagogical practices related to LOtC to inform, teach, and motivate students to develop a greater interest in course content [5]. As a result, using these pedagogical tools contributes to the development of the cognitive skills necessary to train professionals to face the most pressing challenges around the world [6]
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