Nord Anglia Education
WRITTEN BY
St Andrews Bangkok
04 June, 2025

Connecting concepts to context: the role of field trips in student learning

DT Field Trips - DT Field Trips

Nothing brings classroom learning to life quite like stepping out into the real world. These inspiring field trips have given High School students a chance to see design through new perspectives and deepen their understanding.

Our Year 8 students look at how thoughtful design can completely transform a space. Venturing into a uniquely designed café precinct in Bangkok, they were welcomed by the architect behind the project, who walked them through how materials, shapes, and landscaping were used to turn ideas into a functional, beautiful environment. It was a perfect opportunity to connect their classroom work, creativity, problem-solving, and practical design thinking to an example of design in action.

DT Field Trips - DT Field Trips

Meanwhile, our Year 12 IB Diploma students visit renowned designer Patrick Keane’s studio in Bangkok, known for its innovative, sustainable designs that fuse cutting-edge technology with traditional Thai craftsmanship, particularly through the use of natural materials like rattan. Students learned about how traditional arts and crafts can be reimagined for modern spaces. Discussions with Patrick and his team offered valuable insight into balancing innovation with cultural heritage.

DT Field Trips - DT Field Trips

The senior students also visited the Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC), where they explored a wide array of materials, old, new, and smart, used in contemporary design. These experiences opened up fresh thinking around sustainability, cultural relevance, and how materials impact the function and feel of a space.

DT Field Trips - DT Field Trips

At STA, we believe field trips are an essential part of enriching learning experiences beyond the classroom, which offer students many benefits: 

  • Connects classroom concepts with practical applications

  • Encourages critical thinking and creative problem-solving

  • Provides exposure to industry professionals and career pathways

  • Deepens understanding of materials, form, and function

  • Inspires new ideas through hands-on, immersive learning

  • Builds awareness around sustainability and cultural relevance in design

  • Fosters collaboration, reflection, and independent interpretation

Field trips spark curiosity, build connections, and inspire students to think creatively and critically about the world around them. At every age, stepping outside the classroom brings learning to life in new and exciting ways.