As a teacher, I love taking students out of the traditional classroom setting and into the field. Whether it’s places of living culture, remote natural abodes, archaeological sites, museums, or built environments, I delight in immersing students in active learning experiences.

Even if on-the-ground field study isn’t possible, we can offer students an immersive experience. Think case studies, multi-sensory materials, and virtual experiences, for instance. I really believe that when we maximize opportunities for students to engage with real-world examples, we unlock a lock of doors (and windows, too): we encourage their creativity, empower their confidence, challenge them (and ourselves) in new and different ways, and enable them to develop nuanced perspectives on course material. Simply put, we learn best when we engage the most.