Educational fieldtrips are used to augment classroom learning by taking students outside of the school to participate in exploratory activities at a featured location. There are many potential destinations, such as institutions like museums, community centers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and workplaces, or places like historical, geological or biologically diverse sites. As a type of experiential learning, fieldtrips can be engaging and enjoyable while also exposing students to specific aspects of the real world and allowing them to gain unique first-hand experiences. Fieldtrips can vary in length, from wrapping up within a day, requiring a few overnight stays, to over a week if the destination is in a different country.
Field trip cases
Assessing Student Performance in an Overseas Law Course at Boston University
This course is part of the Boston University London Internship Programme, in which students complete both credit classes and internship/work placement in London for 15 weeks (one semester) in their chosen fields of interest. With a combination of lectures, seminars, field trips and self-reading, students are able to gain an overview of the history and the development of the British legal system, and thoroughly examine its contemporary operation and iteration. The wide range of learning activities, particularly the field trip, provides students rich educational opportunities to not only learn from texts, but from hands-on experience.
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Learning Greek History in Greece, Assessing Field Trips at Victoria University of Wellington
A 5-week field trip in Greece is designed to broaden students' knowledge of classical antiquity. Students are advised to retrieve and conduct critical reading of available information and literatures regarding the particular archeological sites that they are assigned to do research on. Their critical thinking skills and information literacy skills are thus enhanced.
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Assessing Student Learning in Architectural Field Trips at Clemson University
With eight field trips to visit a large variety of architectural sites, students of Clemson University are engaged to explore the relationship between architecture and landscape first hand. Records of the field trips are kept through taking pictures, notes and sketches, and brought to the classroom for discussion. The course aims to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of the dependent relationship between architecture and environment.
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Assessing a Field-intensive Geography Class at the University of Western Ontario
The course Field Methods and Practices (Geog 3000y) at the University of Western Ontario involves seminars and a one-week field-intensive excursion. Students are given the opportunity to practice geographical fieldwork skills through conducting authentic geographical research. Stressing on the values of learning by hands-on fieldwork, the course facilitates student-centred learning and experiential learning in field research. Moreover, students are expected to develop observation, analytical, critical, personal and group skills, along with respect for the urban environment.
