2014年4月ACT写作真题及参考范文

    In ancient times, children acquired knowledge about the world from outdoor environment, such as fields, sky and rivers. This primitive way of learning, however, tends to have evolved into a modern education mode which gathers students in classrooms equipped with various hi-tech facilities. Unsatisfied with the monotonous pattern, some educators are now thinking about reintroduction of the original learning experience. Despite the dissenting voice, this proposal is actually an impetus for modern education reform.

    Outdoor learning experience such as field trips serves to bridge the gap between students’ technological way of learning and the real world. Adolescents nowadays are notoriously known as the generation of hi-tech products or more specifically, Internet, around which they have built a multi-dimensional e-life. In the classroom, students receive academic information from projectors; after school, they complete and submit assignments on the Internet; during holiday, these young people keep in touch with teachers and peers in the virtual world. Efficient and convenient as it is, this learning patter actually carries certain drawbacks. Getting used to pictures and videos on the screen, students have few chance to sense the real world by personally experiencing it. A history fan may keep talking about mummies of various kinds, yet have difficulty in identifying a specific one in real scene. Thus, field trips are essential supplements for modern education which is based on the network of rigid electronic devices.

    In addition to the complementary role, field trips act as a catalyzer for creativity and inspiration. Students gain their understanding of the world mostly from learning materials and impartment of teachers. These methods actually limit children’s imagination as they would view the world as what they have been told. By contrast, first-hand experience is more likely to arouse students’ curiosity, leading to potential follow-up research. History has proven that human tends to be more creative by touching and seeing. Yuan Longping, the Father of Hybrid Rice, initiated a new cultivation method of rice by literally living alongside the rice field for years; Benjamin Franklin discovered thunder and lightning by observing the sky in open-air space; Steve Jobs invented MagSafe, the magnetically attached power connector for Mac by the inspiration of culinary appliances encountered during a business trip to Japan. These great figures were inspired in their “field trips”, illustrating that creativity is better stimulated in this way. Therefore, modern education is supposed to introduce such catalyzer into students’ learning syllabus.

    In terms of limited school funds, other sources of financing are the possible alternatives. It is true that improving school’s academic resources and facilities seems to be more urgent task which would occupy a large part of school funds. It does not necessarily mean, though, that the completion of such task would sacrifice young learners’ chance of experiencing the world. An increasing number of successful entrepreneurs are diverting their attention to charity cause, most of who include education in their funding projects. Against such context, school can try to contact related charity foundations and seek for aiding capital. Besides, some museums or businesses may be willing to provide students with the opportunities to work as volunteers. If any of these happens, students will receive the golden chance to go for field trips, while the limited school funds can be utilized to improve academic resources and facilities at the same time.

    All in all, modern education has made remarkable headway during the past decades, with advanced technological devices widely used in the classrooms and learning environment. Yet too much emphasis on modernized learning methods and tools might lead us to an unsatisfactory end as some vital parts for students’ over-all education may be ignored. As a result, field trips, as proposed by some educators, are favorable to help build up a more comprehensive education system for high school students.