There’s nothing quite like a field trip to pull you and your students out of the dreaded end-of-semester lull! Changing up your classroom space is a great way to implement the core Universal Design for Learning objectives of engagement, representation, and action & expression. Connecting the “why,” “how,” and “what” of learning in a new space outside of a classroom can show your students how to take the information they are learning in your course and apply lessons to real-world scenarios. Here are some spaces around campus to explore with your class!
Amphitheater (not fully accessible—no wheelchair access, no technology capabilities)
On a beautiful spring day, it’s always a nice surprise to have class outside! With stadium seating, a large teaching space, and the sounds of the brook nearby, the possibilities for using the IU Ampitheater are endless. Presentations for a public speaking course or political science course would be right at home—this space would certainly bring an ancient Grecian flair to a modern classroom!
Address: 100 South Ballantine Road
Hours: n/a
Wells Library (fully accessible)
With over 4 million books spanning 10 floors, Wells Library is the perfect spot to introduce your students to the joys of researching! Here you can find great resources such as Writing Tutorial Services (located in the Learning Commons), wonderful study spaces, and helpful research librarians for any subject. Instructors of first-year courses might use this as an opportunity to give new IU students an introduction to resources available to them, or more advanced courses might use a library trip to emphasize the importance of reflective peer review or the intricacies of research within specific disciplines.
Address: 1320 E. 10th Street
Hours: MTW 8am-12am, R 8am-10pm, F 8am-8pm, Sa 10am-8pm, Su 11am-12am
Biology Greenhouse (not fully accessible—limited wheelchair access, no technology capabilities)
The IU Biology Greenhouse is a great resource for any class with an environmental focus! Rain or shine, this space can be used to explore concepts such as local environment preservation or sustainable environmental practices. IU instructors should schedule a time for their class to come as a group through the “Schedule a Visit” form.
Address: 1001 E. 3rd Street, access through biology building, Room 139
Hours: MTWF 7:30am-3:45pm, R 7:30am-2:00pm, closed on weekends and during some holidays and IU breaks
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