As societal priorities and norms shift towards establishing healthy and reciprocal relationships with the natural world, there is an increased need for environmental learning (EL) to be more inclusive of students with disabilities. Nationwide, students have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning activities at unique outdoor…

This resource paper explores the benefits of developing virtual fieldtrips to help future-proof geography teaching and learning in times of uncertainty and change. Drawing on a case study from a second-year biogeography module that saw cancellations to in-person fieldtrips in the first UK COVID-19 lockdown and the development of a virtual…

There are relatively few studies examining cooperative learning during laboratory activities in a science museum. This study aims to explore such activities to better understand the nature of cooperative learning, if any, in that setting. The participants in this study were 60 fourth-grade students who visited a science museum lab as part of a…

Background: Free-choice learning, which often takes place in settings such as zoos, is where the learner has autonomy to choose what, where, how, and with whom to learn. Currently, little is known about the potential of free-choice learning experiences at informal settings to engage undergraduates in biology. Purpose: We sought to explore how…

The authors incorporate experiential learning into three courses: Urban Economics, Labor Economics, and the Economics of Inequality. Students visit neighborhoods that, while geographically proximate, remain outside most students' day-to-day experiences, such as a legal red-light district that is also home to low-wage immigrant workers and a public…

This paper introduces four local field studies designed and conducted by two Advanced Placement Human Geography (APHG) teachers. All of these activities were designed for ninth-graders taking APHG courses. Both teachers implement multiple instances of field study in different units of the APHG curriculum throughout the academic year (e.g., two…

Out-of-class learning activities are educational activities that enable students to have learning experiences outside the classroom, beyond the traditional classroom environment. These activities can help students make learning more effective, develop their interests and increase their skills. The aim of the study is to examine the effect of…

This study examined high school journalism educators' perspectives on field trips to attend workshops and conferences sponsored by college and university journalism programs. In-depth interviews were conducted with 29 educators from across the United States, representing a broad range of scholastic journalism programs, schools, and professional…

Perception is one of the most fundamental aspects of human communication. This activity utilizes art to help students experience and understand the psychological and communicative aspects of perception. Students are required to observe and discuss their observations about selected pieces of artwork. After completing the activity, students enhance…

In a rapidly changing global environment, Initial Teacher Educators (ITE) have a responsibility to role-model contemporary teaching approaches, which develop graduates who think creatively and flexibly in educational workplaces. An important aspect of this work is supporting pre-service teachers (PSTs) to understand how to design assessments which…

Field trips to augment in class learning hold valuable learning opportunities and can be transformative when observing context is important to understanding complex issues such as mental health and addiction. However, student reflections papers written after participating in the field trip were reviewed over a five-year period and identified that…

This study explores an innovative Civil Rights program, one that brings together students from two Midwestern high schools, a majority Black public charter school and a majority white Jewish private suburban school. Students participating in this program culminate their study of the Civil Rights Movement by boarding a chartered bus and traveling…

Educational visits are always a highlight of any school year, with museums, historical experiences and outdoor activity centres often winning in the popularity stakes, but what about a visit to a local manufacturing plant or science laboratory? Some might feel that this would be a health and safety headache best avoided, or perhaps that a class…

Because correctional facilities are closed environments, perceptions of prison and jails are largely informed by the media; unfortunately, those perceptions are often inaccurate. Faculty in criminal justice programs often strive to combat inaccurate media images, including offering criminal justice students the opportunity to tour a prison or…

Purpose: Sustainability is a major concern in education policies. This paper aims to describe how alternative economic education including concepts of the circular economy (CE), cradle to cradle (C2C) and zero waste can be addressed by teacher education. The author asks to what extent such alternative concepts contribute to sustainability…