Students often recount some of their most memorable and impactful learning experiences as happening outside a classroom – on field trips or research sites, inside buildings such as museums, greenhouses, or work facilities, outside in natural areas, on farms or city streets, or meeting with people within a community.

In Spring 2026, the Creative Teaching Awards recognized five Cornell faculty who have developed approaches to creating local learning experiences outside the classroom, particularly in spaces or places on the Cornell campus, within Ithaca, or within New York State.

The following case studies document their approaches and share the results of their work. They are downloadable and may be adapted for different courses and learning environments.

Students Turn Theory into Practice with Reading Group Guides for Middle School Youth Misha Ailsworth, Assistant Professor, Psychology, College of Human Ecology and College of Arts & Sciences

Cornell students collaborate with middle school teachers and students to create reading group guides, incorporating learning about developmental theory and educational practice.

Experiencing Food Systems Firsthand with On-Campus and Local Field Trips Kathryn Fiorella, Associate Professor, Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine 

Students learned about the complexity and interconnectedness of food systems and public health through class visits and hands-on experiences.

Using Art to Build Community and Nurture Relationships in the Patient-Physician Dynamic Peggy Leung, Assistant Professor of Medicine, and Andrea Card, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine

Learners engaged with patients outside of the clinical setting by participating in guided experiences at a local art museum.

Awe-Walks and Sensory Savoring Routes: Ithaca’s Natural Landscapes as a Living Laboratory for a Course in Psychological Well-Being Anthony Ong, Professor of Psychology, College of Human Ecology

Students engaged in structured, place-based experiences across Cornell’s campus and the Ithaca community to embody psychological concepts.

From Classroom to Field: Students Drive Real‑World Farm Innovation Marvin Pritts, Professor, School of Integrated Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Through visits to working berry farms and related coursework, students explore diverse farming methods and apply their learning to create a business and marketing plan designed for novice berry growers in New York State.