#747: Uncovering the Value of In-Person Field Trip Experiences for Students

Field trips are considered an essential experience in school. While their benefits for various outcomes are well documented, less research exists on how students perceive the value of field trips. We conducted an initial study with 39 tenth-grade students who attended a field trip to the Amazon rain forest. Students completed a paper-and-pencil survey at the end of the field trip. Results suggest that when reflecting on the field trip, students tend to prioritize their internal experiences over external features. These findings invite consideration of field trips’ potential for supporting components beyond knowledge, such as socio emotional learning. This study contributes to our understanding of how students construct meaning from field trips experiences and may inform future design of field trips to maximize their beneficial impacts.