“You’re in Charge of Your Learning”: Field Trips and Intensive Delivery Programs Enriching the Preservice Teacher Experience

Abstract This article explores a case study that presents the integration of field trips within an intensive delivery mode to enhance preservice teachers’ engagement and learning in STEM education. Using a design thinking and structured learning cycle approach, the collaboration between Victoria University and Wyndham Tech School offered applied learning opportunities through tutorials, field trips, and assessments embedded in VU’s Block Model ® . The impact of this collaborative framework is presented with qualitative research of 35 preservice teachers’ perceptions of their learning through focus groups and reflective assessment submissions. Thematic analysis identified five key themes, exploring both benefits and challenges of the unit, including enriching the student experience, the role of design thinking in learning, the transformative impact of the field trip, perceptions of future teaching practice, and engagement barriers. This case study discusses curriculum design, unit structure, pedagogy, and the impact of the program on student experience, while addressing logistical challenges associated with intensive learning programs.