Studies show field trips improve a student’s personal development by 74 percent and positively impact their education by 56 percent (Research.com). 

   Students tend not to fully understand the importance of a lesson taught in class until faced with the primary live artifacts. When students are offered the opportunities to receive higher knowledge and get first-hand experiences that are generally unavailable in classrooms, they tend to have more enthusiasm to learn. 

   History teacher Abby Tanner has had the pleasure of seeing students benefit from field trips she has taken, such as going to the Zekelman Holocaust Center with her History of Holocaust and Genocide classes. 

   The field trips help students improve academically and socially by exposing them to emotionally impactful artifacts and live testimonies. Tanner and her class had the opportunity to listen to a next-generation speaker, which further enhanced their understanding of the situation. The trip encouraged her students to think selflessly and be more understanding of others’ upbringings. 

   “Students see things they would normally only get to see in pictures,” said Tanner. 

   Junior Allie Lammon was one of many students invited on the trip. She had a great interest in the class and found the museum very knowledgeable. While touring the museum, she would often reflect on Tanner’s lessons and piece together information to gain a deeper understanding.

   “I really enjoyed going to the museum and learning more about what I was getting taught in class,” said Lammon. “It felt more real to see everything displayed in front of my eyes.”

   Even though the field trips were previously put on a short pause due to COVID-19, teachers have finally been able to organize them and once again help their students stay engaged and entertained while learning.