Field studies: inspiring critical-thinking global citizens

Based on elementary and secondary schoolwide implementation experiences at GEMS World Academy Chicago, this paper defines 'field studies' as a field-trip adaptation that connects curricular targets from one or more disciplines to student-directed inquiry-based experiences. We detail the process to develop and coordinate a schoolwide field-study programme: transdisciplinary experiences focused on student agency, authentic data-collection opportunities, and reflections to inform and subsequent learning. We report exemplar field studies, our lessons learned, practical guidance, and links between students' field-study experiences and their development as global citizens. We regard the field study as a promising practice that can suit most any school if educators consider the diverse characteristics and needs of their learning communities. The field study can advance the aim of global citizenship education due to an outward-facing nature that enables students to explore with criticality that which is local and that which is global.