students learn real-world applications on Field Trip

Field trips are recognized as important moments in learning; a shared social experience that provides the opportunity for students to encounter and explore novel things in an authentic setting. Their importance is supported by professional organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association which asserts field trips can “deepen and enhance” classroom study and the National Research Council who assert a quality science curriculum is one that extends beyond the walls of the classroom .

As part of The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education Center for Leadership initiatives, 12 students had the opportunity to take a field trip on Nov. 29 to UniAzul, the biggest aviation university in the country of Brazil. UniAzul, is a training center for the Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras. It includes four full-flight simulators, two flat-panel fixed-based devices, 15 classrooms, one auditorium and super cool cafeteria.

One goal of the Leadership Center is to establish a greater connection between in-class learning and real-world application. Project Coordinator, Carla Michaelis, wants to increase the number of opportunities International Journey's students have to job shadow or intern in the near future.

At UniAzul, the students met with Gessica Gomes, technical training manager . She mentioned that about 350 employees are training daily at UniAzul, and the company expects to train about 1,000 people each year on average.

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Touring the sprawling 6,000 sq  meter facility, all the students had a chance to experience the ATR Simulator with Renato Salvador, a professional pilot. 

The highlight of the field trip for most students was sitting in the simulator's cockpit, dreaming of what it would be like to fly a plane.
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In addition to the exposure of a real-world aviation setting, the students also learned about Gessica's own career trajectory. 

​At the end of the field trip, students were asked to reflect on their amazing experience. Isadora ’17 said that the experience gave her exposure to a possible field that he could pursue in the future. 

Special thanks to Azul AIrlines and COC Sorocaba School ​

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