Virtual Field trips.......


I hear people ask questions like these all the time.......
-What is it?
-How can we use it?
-What are the pros?
-What are the cons?
-Who is the directed audience?
-How can I learn more?


Well here are your answers!! And my opinion!!

--Virtual Field Trips are used when you want to go somewhere and get the adventure and the journey without ever leaving the classroom. Virtual Field trips are just that...field trips you take as a class through the computer (virtually).

--This tool can be used to teach and learn about the wonderful world outside of the school and community. You can visit museums, exotic islands, and even outer space. Teachers can set up a field trip and have the students watch and even interact with the places and people they visit.

--There are multiple positive aspects to virtual field trips. Students can be challenged and exposed to new types of technology with every trip. The trips spark interest and motivates learning in specific content areas. Virtual field trips can be created by the teacher or the teacher can choose to use one that is provided on multiple sites. Virtual field trips offer more opportunities because they can take students and teachers to places they would not have normally been able to go before. e. inside of a volcano or to the ocean floor! They may even boost students' reading levels and comprehension skills by engaging them and having them see and read what is going on. Many sites offer core curriculum projects, internet safety, online students curriculum and assessments, and video capture of what just happened.

--I have only been a witness to a few negative aspects of virtual field trips..... they can be hard to organize and very time consuming. But, what is always easy and quick?! Laos, some sites require registration and fees to use the trips provided. And with teacher salaries, we do not have the funds to do that all the time. They can also be used to replace a real field trip which takes away from the interaction and hands on activities.

--The targeted audience for virtual field trips is of course students. but they can also appeal to teachers. Some sites do offer a teacher professional development section where teacher can get training on topic, tools, and skills. They can learn how to efficiently and effectively integrate technology into the classroom, and even be assessed on their progression.

-- If you want to learn more about virtual field trips, you can visit here or you could try this one. Here are some pros and cons. See for yourself.

--Well, I told you that I would give my opinion, so here it is........ Virtual Field trips are great for traveling places that a regular field trip could not take you. If you want to learn about the ocean floor, the inside of a volcano, or the Egyptian pyramids, then virtual field trips is the way to go. If you want your students to learn about the outdoors, nature, the Coca Cola museum, or even Art, then take them on a real field trip. Let them explore, touch, smell, and see for themselves the wonders of the world within reach. Take them to the High Museum, the Coca Cola Museum, Sweet Water Creek State Park, wherever you can go...GO! If you are wanting to go somewhere that is not within reach, that by all means use the virtual field trips. But do not use them because you are lazy and do not feel like going outside!

* Here are some great site for virtual field trips! Check them out!

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