Our Thoughts
Virtual field trips are useful cause anywhere that you want to take your students is possible. All it takes is a little imagination, and from there with some unique teaching it can be a really helpful process. Any and all experiences are possible and it can be done over days and weeks instead of maybe one day. So to me virtual field trips are great alternate to help in teaching.
-Paul Salvatore
Virtual field trips are the schooling technique of the future. I really enjoyed learning about them. One thing that really caught my eye about virtual field trips as apposed to regular ones is that you are able to go places like outer space or Antarctica. they are free and on normal field trips students would not be able to vi st places such as these. its was also very intriguing to find out that basically anyone could create there own virtual field trip. This I have to say is by far the most interesting topic we have talked about so yet.
-Kimberly Davis
Learning within the barrier walls of the classroom are not longer the case. Virtual field trips are now being used by teachers across the nation. They are being used to break the chains of traditional teaching. No longer are students confined to only reading about history or just hearing a teacher lecture to them about it. Now they are able to take virtual field trips back in time and stimulate what land mark events were really like. It forces them to take an active, hands on learning approach and information is given to them in many different aspects. Now students with specific learning styles are all able to learn the best that they can and this is the most important job for a teacher!
-Jennifer DeHetre
I feel that taking a virtual field trip is a great idea for teachers. Virtual field trips are designed to be entertaining and educational. There is no time involved in travel and no money that has to be spent. The website will provide the field trip and all you have to do as the teacher is make it fun! You can go practically anywhere when taking a virtual field trip, and they provide opportunities for new discovery to be explored in the classroom.
Many students like virtual field trips better than going on a field trip because they can do it at their own pace and aren't sitting in a room listening to someone with a monotone voice talking to them. Anyone who can navigate through computers can create a virtual field trip, even students. Students get excited to visit places that they normally would never be able to visit.
-Cassie Sanderson
I like the way this articles mentions the positives of a virtual field trip. No money, no hassles, its what everyone would love to have. Its also more useful than going on actual field trips because many students can't afford to go. Its nice for some students that want to learn and that are excited to learn about new places and they can go to them virtually. I also like that this article put links to where you can make your own virtual field trip. Its an effective way for students to learn about places without paying or stepping out of the classroom.
-Myrianette Figueroa
In the article, "Get Outta Class With Virtual Field Trips" by Sherril Steele-Carlin, she explains how virtual field trips take students out of the classroom without ever leaving the classroom. Virtual field trips (VFTs) also "provide opportunities for new discovery in the classroom."
A high school student named Emily gave her personal testimony about a virtual field trip being "better than listening to a boring speech about exhibits." Emily goes on to say how much she enjoyed the VFT because she could take her time looking and exploring. She wasn't rushed through each exhibit. This reminds me of my ninth grade field trip. We went to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, DC. We were given a 4-page worksheet and told to answer all the questions by going to the exhibit and reading the information. The task was overwhelming and chaotic. I was so busy hurrying to get the questions answered that I was robbed of any learning. The trip was a chore. A field trip is designed to be learning experience, but if the trip isn't fun, you might as well forget it!
The article listed many links to existing VFTs. I went to one called The JASON project where the group's goal is to increase the learning of young students in the area of science and weather. They also offer online professional development, workshops, and coaching to teachers who want to be qualified to use JASON in their classrooms.
The article mentions software called Tour Maker that assists a user in creating a VFT in an easy, inexpensive way.
-Judith Hintz
Instead of having a classroom filled with restless students aching to get outside, why not actually a take a field trip? Perhaps your class does not have the sufficient funds available you say, then why not take a virtual field trip on the computer? The web provides the resources, you provide the fun. Virtual field trips have accompanied every grade level and are springing up all over the Internet! Trips range from the simple, such as a photo tour of a famous museum, to extremely detailed and high-tech field trips that offer video and audio segments to make the visit more interactive and allow the students to feel more involved. On a virtual field trip, you and your students can go just about anywhere on Earth -- or on out into the solar system. Any teacher, or student, who is even remotely computer knowledgeable can create a virtual field trip. It's as simple as taking a camera along when the class goes off on a field trip. Take plenty of photos, then upload them to your computer and add them to your class or school Web site. There, you've created your first virtual field trip. Teachers Education World talked and seemed to really enjoy using and creating virtual field trips with their students. Students seem to value them as a way to learn about places they might never get to visit. "I decided that the World Wide Web offered an excellent way to access these places, events, and opportunities," said Gary Gillespie, a Seattle teacher who has created a number of virtual field trips for his students. "Students can explore the sites and use the information and pictures for reports or speeches."
-Paige Knorr
I believe that the whole idea of virtual field trips(VTF) is awesome, this is the first time I have ever heard of a VTF. There are many pros to the idea of a VTF, yes it is cheaper for schools who cannot afford to provide students with actual field trips. Also teachers don't have to waste time and worry about all the preparation that goes a into field trip. All that is required is for the teacher to make up the VTF. Overall this idea is an more economical way to plan a trip, and can be more educational.
-Christopher Noe
Never having heard of a virtual field trip before, I found the idea to be quite interesting! This is just another brilliant example of how much impact technology has had on out education system in just the past couple of years. Just think, now kids can take virtual field trips to places like Antarctica, or Asia when they are studying Polar Bears, or Elephants. I don't about you, but when I was in school, a field trip to either of those places was unheard of. I think this is a great way for kids to really get out there and learn about places interactively, without having to hire a travel agent! =) Also, it is great for teachers because, although there are still precautions you must take when venturing into the Web, there are not nearly as many as if you were to actually leave the classroom. No bus arrangements, or lunchtime hassles, and the stress of losing kids is a simply unheard of.
The web page posted at the bottom of the post is a great informational source for all your virtual field trip needs, it even gives ideas on how to create your own virtual field trip!!
-Erin Fobb
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP WEB PAGE
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech071.shtml
14 comments:
I enjoyed reading all of your input on virtual field trips. However, I was wondering why you chose to do individual thoughts instead of collaborating.
I liked that you all put your individual thoughts in your blog! That was different from other blogs. Everyone has something different to say.
My group picked the same article as you! You took a different approach by posting individual summaries. I like how all of them were different even though they were on the same article. Hardly anybody repeated what somebody else had said.
A downside was that the article's name wasn't mentioned until after reading quit a few summaries. While reading the first ones that referred to the article, it made me wonder what the article was.
Good Job! Original format!
Group Five, I did enjoy that you posted each individual summary. That way, we could see each persons own thoughts on Virtual Field Trips instead of getting only one blog.
I loved your approach to this blog and how everyone was part of it in a different way than just submitting their thoughts to the leader, the comments were all used with their contributors name on the actual blog. Great job.
I enjoyed reading all the thoughts that each group had to say about virtual field trips. I was kind of confused though that you guys didn't colloborate all your ideas together. It's something different though and provided a lot of information on virtual field trips.
Although I enjoyed reading all your individual opinions, I do not quite understand why you choose to summarize in this fashion. It is quite unique, and very interesting to hear everyone's opinion. One thing I would change though, it to put a small summary of your article in the beginning to help those reading it understand what is being discussed.
This was definately an interesting way of doing this blog, however, it also kind of seemed as if you took an easy way out. If you are going to take this approach, thats great, but I think you should also put a summary of what everyone said. Not just copy/paste it.
It seems like a lot of people found this article really helpful, but I liked your insight. The colors and letter styles make it fun and unique, too. Way to keep me interested :)
I agree with Kara, it seems like a lot of people found this article, but it's interesting how you set up your summary. The individual thoughts was a different approach, but the diversity of them was unique. Good job, group five!
I like the fact that you pointed of the positives for the children in the classroom being able to work at their own pace for a virtual field trip. I also liked how you include what a real student in high felt about it and not just what a study would show or what teachers felt. If it is getting the student interested in learning, that is also a good tool to use.
I really liked this blog. I also liked how the whole team decided to go with their different thoughts. It was different from all of the other ones with just thoughts instead of what everyone thinks all put together. Good job Team 5 for being different!!!
Thought it was unique how your blog was all individual thoughts on the article, instead of a collaboration. It allowed me to see how each person has their own views on things. Though a summary would have been helpful to read first then all of your opinions. But I still enjoyed reading al of your inputs.
I loved reading all of your information it was very helpfull but, I feel it could have been viewed easeier if you would have colaberated instead of individual thoughts:) But the info was great!!!Keep up the good work
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