Field Experiences

GCE is unique for the way we use our amazing city as a classroom. We’re proud of the way we help students to explore all Chicago has to offer.

The Field Experience (FE) Program exposes students to real-world environments where they explore their interests, apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, and expand their knowledge through firsthand interactions of local and global consequence.

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Interested in becoming a Field Experience host?

Exploring Independent Media as a Tool for Revolt at Public Media Institute

By Hiu To / March 12, 2023
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Students in Equality headed to the Co-Prosperity artist space and gallery in Bridgeport to continue their investigation of underground and independent media’s ability to educate and impact change. They met with Lumpen Media Director…

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Investigating the Cost of Choice at Weinberg/Newton Gallery

By Hiu To / February 27, 2023
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Students in Equality closely examine the theory of intersectionality, the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap,…

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Studying Light at the Truman College Dark Room

By Adam Cohen-Leadholm / January 26, 2023
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

The Juniors in Light, Sound, and Time have been focusing on light and investigating the guiding question: What would life look like without light? Students examine how light could be…

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Exploring the Politics of Identity and Diaspora at DePaul Art Museum

By Hiu To / January 12, 2023
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Students in Poetic Justice explore poetry as a medium to address political issues. During our three-week Civic term, students examine one political issue each week. This week, they explore the…

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Exploring Art by Incarcerated Youth at The Weinberg/Newton Gallery

By Hiu To / January 12, 2023
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Students in Poetic Justice explore poetry as a medium to address political issues. During our three-week Civic term, students examine one political issue each week. This week, they explore the…

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The Physics of Tools at Home Depot

By Adam Cohen-Leadholm / October 2, 2022
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Juniors in the Design & Engineering class talked to experts from the gardening department at Home Depot to investigate the physics of gardening tools. In the first unit of this…

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Carrying Water at The Chicago River

By Will Johnson / October 2, 2022
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

First-year students in the Water class visited the Chicago River to collect water. In the first unit of this STEAM course, students have been pursuing the guiding question, Why is…

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Exploring Language at the Poetry Foundation

By Hiu To / October 2, 2022
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Students in the Stories class returned to the Poetry Foundation to revisit the beautiful visual poems by Monica Ong. In Stories, students explore their voice as storytellers while examining the…

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Visual Storytelling at the Poetry Foundation

By Hiu To / September 5, 2022
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Sophomores in the Stories class found sanctuary from the bustling city at the Poetry Foundation. In this course, students examine how we can shape stories through language, perspective, and different…

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Investigating Sustainable Ecosystems at Big Marsh

By Hiu To / November 8, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

First-year students in the SDGs & You class and the Water class embarked on a cross-curicular Field Experience. The students spent a beautiful fall day biking around Big Marsh to…

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Analyzing Water at Plant Chicago

By Hiu To / October 16, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

First-year students in the Water class embarked on a Field Experience to Plant Chicago to meet with Education Manager, Rock Evans. In the first unit, students collected water from the…

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Discussing Gender in Andersonville

By Hiu To / October 16, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

First-year students in the SDGs & You class are investigating the guiding question, “What does an equal world look like?” by examining issues of gender inequality. In this unit, they…

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Exploring Evolution at Lincoln Park Zoo

By Hasnain Khundmiri / October 11, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Sophomores in the Population class investigated what “unites” and “differentiates” different populations through discussions of species classification, morphology, evolution, phylogenetic trees, etc. To bring their learning to life, they visited…

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Carrying Water at The Chicago River

By Will Johnson / October 5, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

First-year stuents in the Water class visited the Chicago River to collect water. In the first unit of this STEAM course, students have been pursuing the guiding question, why is…

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Physics in the Garden at Home Depot

By Adam Cohen-Leadholm / September 28, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Juniors in the Design & Engineering class talked to experts from the gardening department at Home Depot to investigate the physics of gardening tools. In the first unit of this…

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Assessing Human Needs at Lincoln Park Community Services

By Hiu To / September 16, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Unit I of SDGs & You is entitled Access, and it asks students to investigate the first, second, and fourth Sustainable Development Goals: No Poverty, No Hunger, and Quality Education (respectively).…

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Exploring the Chicago River with Urban Rivers

By Hiu To / September 11, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

First-year students embarked on their first off-campus Field Experience of their GCE career, and it was definitely one for the books. The students are investigating the guiding question, “How is…

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Closing the Loop at Plant Chicago

By Hiu To / April 23, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

First-year students in the Food For Thought and Food class embarked on a cross-curricular Field Experience to Plant Chicago. Education Manager, Rock Evans gave the students a tour of the…

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Tasting coffee’s origins with Metropolis Coffee!

By Brent Mix / April 16, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

The Food For Thought course re-directs our investigations from the interior of the self back into the world that formed our selves, with particular focus on the way our food…

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Discovering Found Object Puppetry with Rough House Theater

By Hiu To / February 22, 2021
September 28, 2023 @ 5:25 pm CDT

Throughout history and around the world, humans have used puppets to pass down stories, share cultural practices, and revolt against censorship. A Show of Hands is a course in which students…

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