Resumen de Exploring learning outcomes of domestic travel experiences through mothers' voices

Matthew J. Stone, James F. Petrick

• Study abroad and long-term international travel have been shown to result in learning of "generic skills," like decision making and patience. However, examination of the benefits of domestic travel is scarce. In this exploratory study, women with children were asked to reflect on domestic travel experiences. They all felt that travel was educational, but they had not often reflected on this experiential learning. Learning outcomes from domestic travel included content knowledge, practical knowledge, interpersonal skills, and personal growth, which were similar outcomes as international travel. Many felt their children learned through domestic family travel experiences and that travel is an important supplement to classroom education. Reflection on the learning outcomes of travel helped individuals to realize that their personal travel had been educative, supporting the applicability of Kolb's experiential learning model to travel. It is recommended that travel providers and educators encourage travelers to reflect on what they learned while traveling. A process model is presented that travel may lead to learning and that this learning may encourage travel.