From scampering about on all fours in the grasslands of Africa to having built sky-high buildings and travelling in luxurious cars, humans have come a long way – all thanks to our insane ability to learn by experience. Schooling today, having become an organized, formal affair, isn’t giving as much importance to experiential learning (which has been a cornerstone of our evolution) as it is to theoretical learning.  

Children have wavering attention spans and a one-dimensional approach towards teaching which bores them or tires them easily. This is why it is important for schools to organize excursions for learning. Taking teaching beyond the classroom walls has many benefits. Let us discuss five prominent ones:  

Seeing is believing

Regardless of how good a teacher is at explaining abstract concepts to children, there is no replacement for practical learning. Learning excursions allow the students to interact with the environment and learn things practically. A lesson learnt while having fun is a lesson forever remembered. Seeing abstract concepts materializing before their eyes leave an indelible imprint on the minds of young students and give them a better understanding of the subject. 

Bonding opportunity between teachers and students

The classroom atmosphere is usually very formal. Given the limited time and the pressure of completing syllabus, teachers and students often don’t get the opportunity to know each other. An excursion for fun learning, however, facilitates a more informal setting, wherein, students and teachers can freely interact with each other.  

This helps clear any misconceptions in the minds of both students and teachers regarding each other. As a result, the students feel comfortable around the teacher and are encouraged to ask engaging questions, strengthening the foundation of the learning process.  

Fostering team spirit

Usually, the students have the support of their teachers in schools, and their parents and siblings at home. While this does create a safe environment for the students, over-protectiveness can often make them dependent on their elders for everything.  

During excursions, students get an opportunity to explore their surroundings themselves and seek help from their peers. This helps develop self-confidence among the students and they learn the importance of cooperating with their peers, which is one of the most essential skills they need when navigating the hurdles of life. 

Individual personality development  

The classroom environment is a safe space and many students who are shy can go into their shells and avoid exposure. This prevents them from learning the necessary communication skills, which they would need to express themselves effectively when they become working individuals. 

An outdoors environment, on the other hand, by virtue of its openness makes students come out of their shells and participate proactively in the learning process, without making them feel like they’re being judged. This goes a long way in building their self-confidence and ultimately leads them to become well-rounded, responsible individuals.  

Developing friendships beyond cultural differences

In a country like India that is a macrocosm of cultures, it isn’t always easy for people to get along with each other. A classroom environment does not create ample opportunities for students from different cultures to interact with each other. As a result, some students might feel alienated or left behind.  

But excursions provide the perfect informal environment where the students can engage in healthy dialogues about each other’s culture and form long-lasting friendships. When these students turn into adults, they would become responsible citizens who make a meaningful contribution to society in terms of building peace and prosperity.