Importance of Educational Field Trips

Teachers must justify a field trip as an educational experience at a museum, science center or zoo. Although field trips provide an important tool for learning, they are often among the first cuts made to balance the budget.

Informal Learning

Unique experiences can enhance a student's understanding of things learned in the classroom.

Learning Styles

Not all students learn the same way. Some students are able to understand how something works only by seeing a hands-on demonstration or viewing the "real thing."

State Education Standards

Museum education programs are increasingly aligned with the state standards in order to explicitly state how a field trip specifically enhances classroom learning.

Outreach Programs

Many museums offer outreach programs to help offset field trip costs by providing a trained professional to come into the classroom to present a program.

Distance Learning

Distance learning programs allow teachers to access presentations by historians, scientists and other experts live via satellite or via the Internet.

Statistics

According to a 1998 publication, "True Needs, True Partners: Museums Serving Schools," more than 88 percent of museums provide K-12 educational programming to supplement lessons learned in the classroom. It's not known how that figure has fluctuated with the economy since then, but it gives an indication of the importance of educational field trips.

References

• True Needs, True Partners: Museums Serving Schools; Institute of Museum and Library Services; 1998