Virtual excursions to the past and modern Atyrau
An excursion (Latin “Excyrsio” means “a trip”) – is a dedicated and demonstrative learning process of surrounding world where prepared objects, theme and routes are used and which is done under the supervision of a qualified specialist.
Excursion functions
1. Information.
2. Organisation of cultural leisure.
3. Creation of interest
4. Scientific knowledge
5. Development of cultural view
Classification of excursions
Classification represents a distribution of objects, events, definitions identified by classes, divisions and categories depending on common criteria. The first attempts to classify excursions are dated back to the end of 20s of the last century. Excursion service is both an independent activity (e.g. holiday resorts, clubs, schools) and a part of a complex of tourist services (in tourist firms). Nowadays excursions are classified as follows:
a) content;
b) composition and quantity of participants;
c) location;
d) means of travelling;
e) duration;
f) form of excursion;
By content excursions can be subdivided into the ones that give an overview (multidisciplinary) and thematic.
As a rule overview excursions are multi theme and they are called multidisciplinary. Historic and modern materials are used here. During overview excursions events are described in general. This gives an idea about a town, area, region, republic, state as a whole. He chronological timeframe of this type of excursion ranges from the date when the town has been first mentioned until present day and its development perspectives.
Thematic excursion is dedicated to one theme and if it is a historic excursion then one or several events connected to one theme or sometimes it is a longer period of time that can form a basis for such an excursion. If the theme of excursion is architectural then the objects of learning can be the most outstanding pieces of architecture located at streets and squares of the town and for bigger cities it can be architectural complexes of the past centuries. Thematic excursions can have a historical, industrial, naturalistic (ecological) purpose, as well as they can be focused on fine arts, literature and architecture and town- planning.
Excursion objects are classified as follows:
Content: one subject (a plant, animal, a piece art work, etc); multidisciplinary (pieces of architecture which are considered historic monuments at the same time).
According to functional meaning objects are classified as main, additional, demonstrational and objects that are commented upon.
On degree of preservation: objects of excursions can be well preserved buildings and structures that have kept their original look as well as rebuilt and reconstructed pieces of architecture and locations where disappeared monuments used to be found or town planning environment of their time. The number of objects included into excursion depends on its purpose and theme.
On composition and quantity of participants excursions can be individual, for locals, tourists, adults and school pupils, etc. Peculiarities of information perception is different with every mentioned group therefore changes should be introduced into content of activities, methodology, their technique as well as their duration.
The location for excursion can be town, suburban area, industrial area, museum or it can be a complex of a few locations (with elements of a few locations).
On means of travelling excursions can be taken as a walking tour and with a use of different means of transport. The preference of a walking tour is that it allows creating a necessary pace and they provide favourable conditions for showing around and telling a story.
Excursions with the use of transport (mainly buses) consist of two parts: analysis of excursion objects (e.g. historic and cultural monuments) while a bus stops and a description related to characteristics of monuments and memorable locations while on the road between the objects. Some excursion providing enterprises use trolley buses, trams, river and sea motor ships, helicopters, etc.
Duration of excursion ranges from 1 academic hour (45 minutes) to one day. Short tours (from 1 to 3-4 days) are called routes for a weekend which can contain several excursions of different length.
Form of excursions can be different
- group excursion, when participants follow the route simultaneously on 10-20 buses with a tour guide provided for every bus;
- excursion walk containing learning elements with resting on the way which is done in a forest, park, sea or river;
- excursion - lecture (description prevails over demonstration);
- excursion - concert is dedicated to a musical theme with listening to music compositions while on a bus trip;
- excursion - play – is a form of literary and art excursion prepared on the basis of certain fiction;
- excursion - consultation which gives illustrative answers to participants' questions and is one of the ways of upgrading qualifications;
- excursion - demonstration is the most illustrative form of familiarisation of the group with nature phenomenon and production processes;
- excursion - lesson is a form of knowledge transfer in accordance with a learning programme of this or that educational institution.
Conclusions. A correct classification of excursions provides conditions for better organisation of a tour guide work with clients, makes a learning specialised process easier and creates a basis for activity of methodological sections. The use of rules for excursions which are made for a certain group helps to actually get the excursion prepared and be effective.
Methods of preparation and conduction of excursions
Excursion tour study – is a science which is based on pedagogic and psychology data but is not a copy of method of learning in a school of general learning.
The theory of excursion method is based upon such pedagogic principles as interaction of learning and education, consistency, systematic character, availability and clarity in material presentation. Mastering excursion methods means not only learning scientific basis and methods but also its creative use which does not allow templates and ready made decisions. A tour guide shall be aware of the nature of sensation, perception, presentation, laws of thinking, meaning and the role of positive and negative emotions during the learning process. Excursions is one of the forms of organising time of rest therefore all the efforts and skills shall be used to make it interesting and captivating.
A general excursion tour methodology consists of two main parts
a) preparation of an excursion;
b) taking an excursion.
Sequence for a new theme
Identification of excursion aims and theme. Every excursion shall have an aim in its theme. The theme of excursion reflects its connection with a certain field of science in a society or nature and is a basis for excursion classification.
Excursions are an integral part of cultural and learning work and at the same time they are an important educational tool for children and teenagers which help the overall development of a personality, formation of an outlook, moral and aesthetic education.
Material learning and build up
Archive work in effort to find and research a source is a hard and creative task, it requires lots of efforts and being persistent and active. Besides it brings an element of scientific research while preparation which makes it closer to the work of a researcher or scientific worker. A story about how new data have been gained which is explained during excursion can sometimes intensively enrich the content of excursion and intensify its emotional sounding.
Preparing a route for excursion
An important step of excursion planning is preparing a route. It finalises work on identification of objects. The route is built up on the following principles: chronological, thematic and complex (chronological and thematic). Excursion route is made up according to its general composition which provides the integrity and logic consequence of presenting the material. While grouping objects related to certain excursion sub-themes one should take into account their remoteness, accessibility, etc.
Excursion planning
Text as well as methodical planning shall reflect contents of excursion. Its perception as a whole is achieved by the logic of formation. The basis for excursion shall be a logic plan which corresponds to a general composition of excursion. Every excursion consists of three main parts: introduction, main part and conclusion.
Introduction
As a rule introduction and conclusion differ from the main part by not being connected to excursion objects. This make an introduction closer to the beginning of a lecture which task is to establish a contact with the audience and attract its attention to the theme. However introduction has its own specifics. At the beginning a tour guide introduces himself giving his name and last name, organisation where he works, introduces a driver (if it is a bus excursion), a captain (if it is a sea excursion). He then announces the theme of the excursion, route, finishing time and its destination. Introduction shall be lively and laconic by its form and of current importance by its content. A tour guide shall aim at attracting participants' attention right away. It is important to remember that the beginning of excursion is a crucial moment when participants make their first impression about a tour guide.
Main part
The main part of excursion is built up on a combination of demonstration and description. Different techniques are used during this part of excursion. It is reasonable to finish every sub-theme of excursion by summarising the material - drawing a conclusion.
Conclusion
In the conclusion a tour guide shall give a summary of excursion, make general conclusions on the theme and answer questions of the participants. The conclusion consolidates the meaning and significance of what have been seen and heard by excursion participants and it explains the theme once again. In the conclusion a tour guide can recommend participants to take part in other excursions.
Card for excursion object
Name of the excursion object
Location, address
Time of appearing, opening, development
Author (for architectural monuments, sculptures).
Outside features: style, characteristics
Purpose and use
Brief history of the object. Its modern characteristics
Predicted changes
Literature used to make a card
It is advisable to attach a picture of the excursion object to the card and its location map.
Excursion techniques
Excursion techniques make a specific form of a tour guide work. These techniques and methods are based on excursion specifics – combination of demonstration and narration and move of participants from one object to the other one. Knowledge gained by the participants of excursion is based upon their perception of studied objects and the events of objective world. Therefore excursion plays an important role in a system of visual techin methods (paintings, models, pictures, etc).
Placement of excursion participants
After the location for showing the object has been chosen it is necessary to place participants in the right manner. It is important to see that all the participants can easily see both the object and the tour guide. The most convenient way is to place participants in a semi ring shape. Tour guide shall stand on the side half-turned to participants. On the one hand this position allows the tour guide to see the object himself and on the other hand it allows seeing the group. Continuous supervision of the participants and their reaction is an important condition for effective work of the tour guide. While placing the group it is necessary to make sure that all the participants can clearly see and hear.
Quoting during excursions
Quoting or reproduction of parts of literary composition, recollections, documentation and other sources is widely used during excursions. A quote intensifies listeners' interest and helps to prove a position and gives a big authority to the statement of a tour guide and allows to imagine more vividly the colouring of the era. Quotations help to make a better use of the rich arsenal of facts and thoughts that have been accumulated by humanity. Excessive use of quotes is not complimented. It is better to learn quotes by heart.
Standard of speech of a tour guide
Possession of art of telling a story by a tour guide is a guarantee for successful excursion. Therefore, experience of an educational specialist and a lecturer which is based on learning oratorical art shall help a tour guide to successfully master his profession. The speech shall be grammatically correct, clear, expressive, original and laconic. The feeling of confidence which is necessary for the tour guide to make a successful excursion can be complete only if his speech is grammatically correct. He can not speak freely and react in a correct manner to participant's behaviour without it.
Tour guide contact with group
The success of excursion and its effectiveness depend on establishing a required contact between a tour guide and participants from the first moment of meeting until its finish. Favourable “psychological climate” during excursion is a necessary condition when excursion gives a creative satisfaction to a tour guide and aesthetic delight and joy to its participants.
Excursion functions
1. Information.
2. Organisation of cultural leisure.
3. Creation of interest
4. Scientific knowledge
5. Development of cultural view
Classification of excursions
Classification represents a distribution of objects, events, definitions identified by classes, divisions and categories depending on common criteria. The first attempts to classify excursions are dated back to the end of 20s of the last century. Excursion service is both an independent activity (e.g. holiday resorts, clubs, schools) and a part of a complex of tourist services (in tourist firms). Nowadays excursions are classified as follows:
a) content;
b) composition and quantity of participants;
c) location;
d) means of travelling;
e) duration;
f) form of excursion;
By content excursions can be subdivided into the ones that give an overview (multidisciplinary) and thematic.
As a rule overview excursions are multi theme and they are called multidisciplinary. Historic and modern materials are used here. During overview excursions events are described in general. This gives an idea about a town, area, region, republic, state as a whole. He chronological timeframe of this type of excursion ranges from the date when the town has been first mentioned until present day and its development perspectives.
Thematic excursion is dedicated to one theme and if it is a historic excursion then one or several events connected to one theme or sometimes it is a longer period of time that can form a basis for such an excursion. If the theme of excursion is architectural then the objects of learning can be the most outstanding pieces of architecture located at streets and squares of the town and for bigger cities it can be architectural complexes of the past centuries. Thematic excursions can have a historical, industrial, naturalistic (ecological) purpose, as well as they can be focused on fine arts, literature and architecture and town- planning.
Excursion objects are classified as follows:
Content: one subject (a plant, animal, a piece art work, etc); multidisciplinary (pieces of architecture which are considered historic monuments at the same time).
According to functional meaning objects are classified as main, additional, demonstrational and objects that are commented upon.
On degree of preservation: objects of excursions can be well preserved buildings and structures that have kept their original look as well as rebuilt and reconstructed pieces of architecture and locations where disappeared monuments used to be found or town planning environment of their time. The number of objects included into excursion depends on its purpose and theme.
On composition and quantity of participants excursions can be individual, for locals, tourists, adults and school pupils, etc. Peculiarities of information perception is different with every mentioned group therefore changes should be introduced into content of activities, methodology, their technique as well as their duration.
The location for excursion can be town, suburban area, industrial area, museum or it can be a complex of a few locations (with elements of a few locations).
On means of travelling excursions can be taken as a walking tour and with a use of different means of transport. The preference of a walking tour is that it allows creating a necessary pace and they provide favourable conditions for showing around and telling a story.
Excursions with the use of transport (mainly buses) consist of two parts: analysis of excursion objects (e.g. historic and cultural monuments) while a bus stops and a description related to characteristics of monuments and memorable locations while on the road between the objects. Some excursion providing enterprises use trolley buses, trams, river and sea motor ships, helicopters, etc.
Duration of excursion ranges from 1 academic hour (45 minutes) to one day. Short tours (from 1 to 3-4 days) are called routes for a weekend which can contain several excursions of different length.
Form of excursions can be different
- group excursion, when participants follow the route simultaneously on 10-20 buses with a tour guide provided for every bus;
- excursion walk containing learning elements with resting on the way which is done in a forest, park, sea or river;
- excursion - lecture (description prevails over demonstration);
- excursion - concert is dedicated to a musical theme with listening to music compositions while on a bus trip;
- excursion - play – is a form of literary and art excursion prepared on the basis of certain fiction;
- excursion - consultation which gives illustrative answers to participants' questions and is one of the ways of upgrading qualifications;
- excursion - demonstration is the most illustrative form of familiarisation of the group with nature phenomenon and production processes;
- excursion - lesson is a form of knowledge transfer in accordance with a learning programme of this or that educational institution.
Conclusions. A correct classification of excursions provides conditions for better organisation of a tour guide work with clients, makes a learning specialised process easier and creates a basis for activity of methodological sections. The use of rules for excursions which are made for a certain group helps to actually get the excursion prepared and be effective.
Methods of preparation and conduction of excursions
Excursion tour study – is a science which is based on pedagogic and psychology data but is not a copy of method of learning in a school of general learning.
The theory of excursion method is based upon such pedagogic principles as interaction of learning and education, consistency, systematic character, availability and clarity in material presentation. Mastering excursion methods means not only learning scientific basis and methods but also its creative use which does not allow templates and ready made decisions. A tour guide shall be aware of the nature of sensation, perception, presentation, laws of thinking, meaning and the role of positive and negative emotions during the learning process. Excursions is one of the forms of organising time of rest therefore all the efforts and skills shall be used to make it interesting and captivating.
A general excursion tour methodology consists of two main parts
a) preparation of an excursion;
b) taking an excursion.
Sequence for a new theme
Identification of excursion aims and theme. Every excursion shall have an aim in its theme. The theme of excursion reflects its connection with a certain field of science in a society or nature and is a basis for excursion classification.
Excursions are an integral part of cultural and learning work and at the same time they are an important educational tool for children and teenagers which help the overall development of a personality, formation of an outlook, moral and aesthetic education.
Material learning and build up
Archive work in effort to find and research a source is a hard and creative task, it requires lots of efforts and being persistent and active. Besides it brings an element of scientific research while preparation which makes it closer to the work of a researcher or scientific worker. A story about how new data have been gained which is explained during excursion can sometimes intensively enrich the content of excursion and intensify its emotional sounding.
Preparing a route for excursion
An important step of excursion planning is preparing a route. It finalises work on identification of objects. The route is built up on the following principles: chronological, thematic and complex (chronological and thematic). Excursion route is made up according to its general composition which provides the integrity and logic consequence of presenting the material. While grouping objects related to certain excursion sub-themes one should take into account their remoteness, accessibility, etc.
Excursion planning
Text as well as methodical planning shall reflect contents of excursion. Its perception as a whole is achieved by the logic of formation. The basis for excursion shall be a logic plan which corresponds to a general composition of excursion. Every excursion consists of three main parts: introduction, main part and conclusion.
Introduction
As a rule introduction and conclusion differ from the main part by not being connected to excursion objects. This make an introduction closer to the beginning of a lecture which task is to establish a contact with the audience and attract its attention to the theme. However introduction has its own specifics. At the beginning a tour guide introduces himself giving his name and last name, organisation where he works, introduces a driver (if it is a bus excursion), a captain (if it is a sea excursion). He then announces the theme of the excursion, route, finishing time and its destination. Introduction shall be lively and laconic by its form and of current importance by its content. A tour guide shall aim at attracting participants' attention right away. It is important to remember that the beginning of excursion is a crucial moment when participants make their first impression about a tour guide.
Main part
The main part of excursion is built up on a combination of demonstration and description. Different techniques are used during this part of excursion. It is reasonable to finish every sub-theme of excursion by summarising the material - drawing a conclusion.
Conclusion
In the conclusion a tour guide shall give a summary of excursion, make general conclusions on the theme and answer questions of the participants. The conclusion consolidates the meaning and significance of what have been seen and heard by excursion participants and it explains the theme once again. In the conclusion a tour guide can recommend participants to take part in other excursions.
Card for excursion object
Name of the excursion object
Location, address
Time of appearing, opening, development
Author (for architectural monuments, sculptures).
Outside features: style, characteristics
Purpose and use
Brief history of the object. Its modern characteristics
Predicted changes
Literature used to make a card
It is advisable to attach a picture of the excursion object to the card and its location map.
Excursion techniques
Excursion techniques make a specific form of a tour guide work. These techniques and methods are based on excursion specifics – combination of demonstration and narration and move of participants from one object to the other one. Knowledge gained by the participants of excursion is based upon their perception of studied objects and the events of objective world. Therefore excursion plays an important role in a system of visual techin methods (paintings, models, pictures, etc).
Placement of excursion participants
After the location for showing the object has been chosen it is necessary to place participants in the right manner. It is important to see that all the participants can easily see both the object and the tour guide. The most convenient way is to place participants in a semi ring shape. Tour guide shall stand on the side half-turned to participants. On the one hand this position allows the tour guide to see the object himself and on the other hand it allows seeing the group. Continuous supervision of the participants and their reaction is an important condition for effective work of the tour guide. While placing the group it is necessary to make sure that all the participants can clearly see and hear.
Quoting during excursions
Quoting or reproduction of parts of literary composition, recollections, documentation and other sources is widely used during excursions. A quote intensifies listeners' interest and helps to prove a position and gives a big authority to the statement of a tour guide and allows to imagine more vividly the colouring of the era. Quotations help to make a better use of the rich arsenal of facts and thoughts that have been accumulated by humanity. Excessive use of quotes is not complimented. It is better to learn quotes by heart.
Standard of speech of a tour guide
Possession of art of telling a story by a tour guide is a guarantee for successful excursion. Therefore, experience of an educational specialist and a lecturer which is based on learning oratorical art shall help a tour guide to successfully master his profession. The speech shall be grammatically correct, clear, expressive, original and laconic. The feeling of confidence which is necessary for the tour guide to make a successful excursion can be complete only if his speech is grammatically correct. He can not speak freely and react in a correct manner to participant's behaviour without it.
Tour guide contact with group
The success of excursion and its effectiveness depend on establishing a required contact between a tour guide and participants from the first moment of meeting until its finish. Favourable “psychological climate” during excursion is a necessary condition when excursion gives a creative satisfaction to a tour guide and aesthetic delight and joy to its participants.