Field trips have been among the most relevant and memorable educational experiences that I’ve had during school. It’s one thing to sit in class and glance at slides or read in a textbook about something, but actually visiting a museum, historic site, or lab makes learning concrete in a way that nothing else can. That’s why I believe we need to have more field trips, they create active connections between education and the real world in enjoyable, and memorable experiences.
I’ve experienced this personally in my AP Art History class. We visited the Art Institute of Chicago twice, and both times I was amazed at how different it was seeing well-known pieces of artwork in person instead via a screen. Standing in front of one of Van Gogh’s self portraits, I could actually see the tiny strokes of paint, the texture of the canvas, and the way the colors blended. It was not something to memorize for an exam, but something to experience. Personally seeing these works of art solidified my understanding of the techniques that we had learned and helped me to appreciate art on an entirely different level.
I am not alone in this opinion. Research suggests that students learn more when they experience something in a real-world, tangible setting. Going to museums, historical locations, or even companies enables us to connect topics in a way that just doesn’t occur in regular classes. Reading about history is something, but to actually walk through a historical location and imagine the lives that people led all those years ago creates a new understanding of those events. It is the same with science; seeing an experiment conducted at a laboratory or visiting a nature preserve presents us with concepts in action. Lectures just cannot compare to this experience.
Field trips also spark creativity and curiosity. They expose us to new places, people, and ideas. Sometimes, they even shape our future dreams. For art and design students like me, field trips to museums and architectural landmarks can be particularly inspirational. For others, a field trip to a tech company or a theater might spark an interest they never even knew they had.
Despite all these benefits, field trips seem to be occurring less and less. Schools often cite budget issues or scheduling conflicts, but I believe that we have to find ways to prioritize them. Even nearby trips, like visiting a local museum, a community garden, or an art gallery can have a huge impact. Some schools have learned to make field trips more feasible by getting local groups to partner with them. If we really want students to be engaged in learning, we have to be working towards making these sorts of things happen.