When you look back at your previous school years, what is your most vivid memory? Chances are, it isn’t the hours you spent sitting in class trying to pay attention to your teacher, or the textbooks you skimmed over in panic before exams, or even the tests you had to take, no matter how brutal (or delightful?) you found them. On the other hand, one of the most memorable parts of the student experience is field trips. In addition to being an enjoyable way to skip a day or two of school, they are powerful teaching tools that help enhance the student experience in various ways:
Field trips connect classroom material to the real-life world
As students, we often complain that the majority of the material taught in classrooms does not reflect the knowledge and practical skills that we truly need to navigate our daily lives. In other words, regurgitating the words of a textbook onto a final exam doesn’t teach students how to think critically and creatively in order to overcome the challenges following their school years. As well, the daily routine of school can become quite repetitive, causing students to burn out, especially during the second semester. Teachers start losing their students’ attention and it can become harder for students to retain information. This is one reason why it is important for schools to take the time to organize a field trip: it sparks or reignites their students’ eagerness to learn once again. When a teacher organizes a field trip that reflects the material they teach in class, it can reinforce that material by allowing it to come to life. When that happens, valuable information resonates better with students and encourages them to learn more about the topic. During a field trip, students are given the opportunity to visualize and discuss the material in a looser, more laid-back environment that allows them to express their thoughts more freely than if they were in a classroom.
They expose students to experiences that the classroom does not offer
We know that every student has their own unique way in which they learn best. However, our classrooms do not always cater to our individual needs, and our curriculums do not cover every subject or area of study that students want to engage in. The gaps that our curriculums leave in our learning can be filled in by extracurricular activities, as well as school trips. Trips provide students with an enjoyable learning experience in which they are exposed to new concepts they may not cover in class. For instance, in 2017, HWDSB held a program called Skills Powered By Women as part of OYAP. The program aimed to introduce female students to career options in the skilled trades, something that rarely happens in schools. What was unique about this program is that it highlighted the essential role women play in the skilled trades. Participating in the program sparked the interest of many girls, including myself, to consider a career or hobby related to the skilled trades. Personally, it empowered me to start taking on “DIY” projects in which I learned how to operate power tools to experiment and create, whether it was constructing a simple table or replacing old drywall! While some schools offer courses or classes related to the skilled trades, they can often be intimidating to commit to, especially when academic grades come into play. This makes school trips a perfect way to expose students to different subject matters so that they can test the waters without being afraid of dedicating much time and effort.
School trips provide a cultural experience
One of the most effective ways of creating and integrating diversity into our school system is by submerging students into various cultural experiences. Exploring different cultures and environments is not only essential for a student’s learning, but it also positively shapes their development as a global citizen and opens their eyes to new ways of life, customs, beliefs, traditions, foods, languages, and much more. Incorporating cultural learning prompts students to ask critical questions, view the world from a fresh perspective, and reflect on their own life and how it compares to the routines and lives of others. In addition, cultural opportunities give students a chance to step out of their comfort zone, a crucial skill that will always be of benefit to them in the future. When asked to reflect upon the cultural education that school trips have provided, one student recalled a Mandarin program he was a part of in elementary school. The program held a trip to the ROM, during which students viewed artifacts and sculptures, such as jade armour, from Chinese dynasties. Being Chinese himself, he felt that the trip connected him to his culture since he hadn’t visited China much in the past.
They allow students and teachers to bond
The beauty of field trips is that they take students out of classrooms and put them in a new environment. They are encouraged to mix with other classmates and meet, talk to, and collaborate with people outside of their friend group. Once again, this lets students reach beyond their comfort habits while also making lifelong memories with their peers. Further, some students may be quiet and reserved in class, but engage more during hands-on activities and school trips. Students and teachers see each other in a different situation and environment outside of the usual classroom, and in doing so, the connection between teachers and their students becomes stronger. Parents who choose to serve as volunteers or chaperones get to know the teacher better during trips as well.
To sum up, the value of field trips should never be underestimated. They are a vital tool that school boards should continue to organize and take advantage of, as they are a method of experiential learning. It has been proven that students learn more by partaking in activities and workshops that engage their sensors rather than by sitting down all day and listening to long lectures. Field trips also present students with a variety of practices, skills, and opportunities that may not be offered as part of their usual school curriculum, such as cultural education with trips to museums or galleries. Above all, field trips are a chance for students and teachers to see each other in a different light and make valuable moments with their classmates. Such experiences are what students take away from most and remember from their school years.
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