Field Trip to The Mekarsari Fruit Garden

The Mekarsari Fruit Garden conjures ideas of picking delicious tropical fruit or looking about at the many exotic plants. But when the seventh grade of Santa Laurensia Junior High School went there last Thursday April 3, they were not just picking fruit or casually wandering around—they certainly did a lot more than that as they participated in a number of learning activities. Our excursion to the garden was prefaced by in-depth preparation; the learning unit concluded with student presentations of the knowledge they had gained while there.
Thursday was a hot a day but the students were extremely excited. All traveled to the site in the same bus but, after arriving, the students were separated into four groups and went off in four different directions to study different topics. Each group consisted of representatives from each class. The first group learned about tissue cultures, while the second group learned about two types of vegetative propagation, marcotting and cutting. The third group studied plant anatomy, and the last group learned about the 10 amazing trees of Indonesia.
The first group, who studied tissue culture, went to the laboratory after a brief presentation about the subject. There they learned techniques to make the media and to plant the explants to the media in small bottles under a sterile environment while using sophisticated instrument to prevent contamination. The students were exited when they tried to do this individually but still under the guidance of a laboratory technician, who patiently assisted them step by step. Here they learned that a plant can be grown using a small amount of plant tissue. Each went home with a young pineapple tree that was propagated using this technique, which they will plant at their homes as a contribution in the prevention of global warming. Imagine if every person in the world planted at least one of these in their home. How many plants would there be, and how much better would the world be? The students have taken a small step, but one that is full of hope.
The second group learned about the two methods of vegetative propagation, marcotting and cutting. The purpose of this activity was to enable them to learn by doing. In this way we hope that they can really understand the differences between vegetative and generative propagation. The students learned how to be responsible when using sharp laboratory equipment, and how to multiply their plants without waiting for seeds to grow. Each went home with the result of their efforts—one of the plants that they themselves propagated
The third group learned about plant anatomy in real-life terms by working with actual plants. With the quantity of plants that this garden has, the students have so many materials to learn about, especially since science in the textbook and in nature are very different. We hope that learning with real plants will give the students a better understanding of the ecosystem. Each one in this group went home with one of the plant they observed. Hopefully, the students will use their plants as a model when they tell others about their experiences at the Garden.
The fourth group traveled across the park to see the 10 Most Amazing Trees of Indonesia. Not only did they learn how to identify each plant but also learned of their magnificence—the economic and ecological benefits of these plants. Though it was a really hot day, the students were still cheerful and expressed their curiosity about these wonderful trees. They never realized that a common plant such as bamboo, which grows around our campus and which they really never took notice of, could be so magnificent. The students left with one of the plants to witness its growth—thereby seeing how amazing bamboo really is. Even I’m still left wondering.
But the field trip was not over just yet, since on the next day each group brought a laptop to school. Everyone gathered in front of the Health Center where a wireless network connection is available, and tried to contribute what they had learned to make a presentation in either Power Point or Flash. Indeed, it was collaboration among three subjects: Biology, Bahasa Indonesia, and Computer. After two hours of studying some additional materials under the teachers’ guidance, they prepared their presentations.
There were four groups that learned different things so, at the end of the day, the best five groups from the five different classes did a presentation about the four different topics that they had studied. In this way they learned how to develop information, which they shared with other groups to expand everyone’s knowledge.
All the students already did their best but still they had enthusiasm to do better. By watching the best five and hearing from their successes, all other groups will try to improve their results within a week. With this level of enthusiasm, I believe they have a bright future.