What is a Virtual Field Trip?
-- A Virtual Field Trip is a collection of websites, videos, images, and other forms of digital media combined into a single presentation that allows viewers to experience first-hand different places or time periods right from the computer.
-- A Virtual Field Trip saves the teacher the hassle of a regular field trip; it is easier to put together and takes less time to view. Image how much time and effort a teacher would have to put aside to get a 10th grade class to go on a trip to Mount Everest. With a Virtual Field Trip, the class could go to Mount Everest and get back before class is over.
--Virtual Field Trips break away from the monotony of teachers standing up in front of class and lecturing, now students can learn along with the teacher as they explore foreign places and time periods using 21st century technology in the classroom.
You can create you own Virtual Field Trip
--Virtual field trips can be made from simple pictures or slides with words to fully interactive and highly detailed video or audio clips, using website software, video or movie-making software, PowerPoint, or even Microsoft Word.
--Not all Virtual Field Trips found on the web can convey a strong picture of the place you are trying to visit. You have to search hard to find the perfect one, or even create your own.
--There are many web sites out there that provide one with step by step directions to creating a virtual field trip. Google Earth, for example, is a highly recommended tool because it has so many capabilities and can be used to view so many different places around the world. Websites exist that have pre-made virtual field trips on them as well, such as tramline.com.
How Virtual Field Trips Can Be Used in the Classroom
--Virtual field trips can be used to supplement a lesson without having students leave the room and without having to worry about transportation or money. For example, for a science lesson on plate movements, Google Earth can be used to view faults and plate movements, instead of trying to transport students to see them in real life.
--Instead of having students sit and watch the teacher click the mouse, virtual field trips are so easy to create that students could create their own and present them.
--One way teachers can implement a virtual field trip into their lesson would be to assign students "specialists" roles in one aspect of the topic that they will be studying during the field trip. Students could be grouped in different subject areas related to the field trip topic to research (e.g., history, art, religion, science, environment, etc).
Virtual Field Trip Resources
Eduscapes.com/AboutGoogleEarth
Definition of Virtual Field Trips
How to Plan a Virtual Field Trip
Virtual Field Trips:
American History Virtual Tour with Google Earth
Seven Natural Wonders of the World Virtual Tour
Trans Siberian Railway Virtual Tour
Latin America Virtual Field Trip
Great Wall of China Virtual Field Trip
Philadelphia Virtual Walking Tour