Use field trips to informal science institutions as a tool for reducing science achievement gaps¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 2 studies (2 causal), q3 · 1 of 2 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The article suggests that field trips "might be an effective tool for reducing achievement gaps," because effects were largest for Hispanic students and students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Administrators and policymakers can target field trip programming toward these student groups as an equity-oriented enrichment strategy within accountability-constrained schooling.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Access to informal science education institutions for field trip visits

Constraints¶

• Evidence base is one quasi-experimental study of New York City eighth graders; gap-reduction is stated as a suggestion, not a tested result

Target Learners¶

• Hispanic students
• students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch
• middle school students

Target Learning Goals¶

• science achievement
• closing achievement gaps

Claims¶

• Field trip effects on science achievement are largest for Hispanic students and students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch [+W]
• Effects were larger in intervention schools with a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students or a lower percentage of White students [+W]

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Emilyn Ruble Whitesell. (2016). A Day at the Museum: The Impact of Field Trips on Middle School Science Achievement. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, vol. 53, issue 7. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/a-day-at-the-museum-the-impact-of-field-trips-on-middle-school-science-achievement