Using Field Trips to Enhance STEM Education

KEY POINTS

• Identify field trip destinations in your area.
• Explore options with guest speakers.
• Look online for virtual field trip resources.

Field trips can play an important and influential role for you and your students because active, hands-on learning lies at the heart of STEM education. Getting students away from the usual classroom environment for a period of time can be a nice change of pace. Even better, these experiences can give students new perspectives on STEM careers and how STEM is used to solve problems in the real world.

TRAVEL TO NEW PLACES

When it comes to planning a field trip, there are a lot of options to choose from. Visiting a museum or an education center can be a great opportunity for students to explore the STEM subjects outside of the classroom. Likewise, taking a field trip to a nature preserve or a local, state, or national park offers students the chance to get some fresh air and learn about the natural world at the same time. Visiting a local manufacturing plant is a terrific way to get students interested in subjects like engineering and advanced manufacturing. Conduct some research regarding potential field trip destinations in your area. Whatever you choose, adventures like this are sure to spark the interest and passion of your students.

SEEK OUT GUEST SPEAKERS

Guest speakers are always a great way to bring STEM to life inside, or outside, your classroom. Inviting a guest speaker to come and talk with your students is a great way to highlight the real-world relevance of STEM subjects. There are also opportunities where students can listen to and interact with guest speakers outside of the classroom, especially in settings like museums, factories, laboratories, or college campuses. Try looking for STEM professionals within your community who might be interested in volunteering and inspiring your students.

EXPLORE VIRTUALLY

Unfortunately, some of the best field trip opportunities can often be hundreds of miles away. To explore these places without spending the extra time or money, virtual field trips are often one convenient alternative. These unique experiences allow students to see places all around the world without ever leaving their classroom. Using virtual reality headsets can be one of the best ways to accomplish this, but virtual field trips can also be explored using a simple projector in your classroom. There are many free virtual field trip resources available online that are just a quick Google search away.

— Dr. Jake Roark