The 2011 South Dakota Investigations Trip was the ninth since its formation by Marlene Schoeneck. The 2011 edition took place in the Badlands. As usual students were able to gather information through the various data, questions and observations.

The paper will examine and develop a critique of the ninth edition of the trip. Further on, the paper will evaluate the educational benefits and drawbacks that were accrued to the trip.

Educational Benefits

The trip was a significant milestone in the pedagogical aspects of the students. As such, students were able to incorporate their classroom knowledge in real life situations thereby improving their understanding of concepts. The five-day trip was substantive in ensuring that student comprehended the various geographical features in the Badlands such as cascade falls, hot springs, tectonic plates and igneous rocks. The trip was also essential in promoting the aspect of self-independence to the students. With such, students were able to carry out their everyday duties with minimal supervision. The ability of the students to fill in the trip questions and observe the various geographical features in the region is significant in improving their research skills and competencies. The visits to the national park and other recreational centers would help to break down the class monotony thereby refreshing their minds.

Drawbacks

The trip encountered numerous drawbacks despite the various benefits that were realized. The low temperatures and rain in the region made some activities to be delayed. The presence of fog and rain at Mount Rushmore reduced their visibility forcing them to go back to the camp. The strong wind was a major challenge to the tents.

Conclusion

The South Dakota Field Trip was awesome to the students and their instructors. With such students were able to apply their class knowledge to real life scenarios thereby improving their understanding. The sketching and research skills of the students were greatly improved. The major drawbacks comprised of the strong wind, fog and rain and steep terrain. Despite the drawbacks, the objectives of the trip were ultimately realized.