The Beginner's Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips - Jan Zanetis
To Class_422,
Utilizing the powerful technology of h.323 videoconferencing equipment, a network of interconnected communication systems, many of today's students are privileged and able to engage in "real-world experiences" in the classroom with virtual field trips, VFTs. These interactive adventures provides low to no cost benefits, in comparison to an actual field trip, and introduces students to places they desire to see and might never be able to see without this technology. Our educational system is in the midst of a budgetary crisis, and unfortunately onsite field trip programs are one facet that is falling by the way side. With that said, I was enthralled from the moment I read this article that there is still hope for cultural and social transformation in this medium. This article delves deep into the positives that we can still deliver excellent resources for students: to increase global awareness, advocate student interaction with professionals in respective fields, and “empower teachers, librarians, administrators, and IT staff to create significant opportunities for their school to focus on a world beyond the chain link fence”. Once students engage in these interactive virtual field trips, in expectations of creating dynamic dialogue with others around the world, the walls vanish and learning becomes multicultural. Two components are outline in this article that VFTs can offer students this information in an asynchronous or interactive synchronous formats, not in real time or in real time respectively. In all, there are means to establishing VTFs in your classroom by way of speaking to your district technology coordinator who can provide information on h.323 videoconferencing units. VTFs offer advantages to assist and captivate students with worldly pedagogical knowledge.
Thank you for your time,
Thomas
Below are links to award-winning VFTs provided in the article
1. Adventures in Medicine & Science | http://aims.slu.edu
2. Center for Puppetry Arts | www.puppet.org
3. Cleveland Institute of Music | www.cim.edu/dl/index.php
4. Cleveland Museum of Natural History | www.cmnh.org
5. George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate | www.mountvernon.org/learn/index.cfm
6. Hank Fincken: A National Theatre Company of One | www.hankfincken.com
7. HealthSpace | www.cmnh.org/site/classesandprograms/schoolprograms/healthed.aspx
2. Center for Puppetry Arts | www.puppet.org
3. Cleveland Institute of Music | www.cim.edu/dl/index.php
4. Cleveland Museum of Natural History | www.cmnh.org
5. George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate | www.mountvernon.org/learn/index.cfm
6. Hank Fincken: A National Theatre Company of One | www.hankfincken.com
7. HealthSpace | www.cmnh.org/site/classesandprograms/schoolprograms/healthed.aspx
8. Life Science Education Center at Marian College |
www.marian.edu/EcoLab/Education/Pages/default.aspx
9. Louisville Science Center | www.louisvillescience.org
10. Mote Marine Laboratory | www.mote.org
11. NASA Digital Learning Network|
http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/catalog
12. The National WWII Museum | www.nationalww2museum.org
13. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry | www.omsi.edu
14. The Paley Center for Media | www.paleycenter.org
15. Reef HQ Aquarium in Australia | www.reefhq.com.au
16. Virent Broadcasting Company | www.virent.net
www.marian.edu/EcoLab/Education/Pages/default.aspx
9. Louisville Science Center | www.louisvillescience.org
10. Mote Marine Laboratory | www.mote.org
11. NASA Digital Learning Network|
http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/catalog
12. The National WWII Museum | www.nationalww2museum.org
13. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry | www.omsi.edu
14. The Paley Center for Media | www.paleycenter.org
15. Reef HQ Aquarium in Australia | www.reefhq.com.au
16. Virent Broadcasting Company | www.virent.net
Zanetis, Jan.(2009-2010) The Beginner's Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips, Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), 20-21. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-march-april-2010.aspx
2 comments:
Thomas-
I like how your post recognizes the need to emphasize globalism and multiculturalism. This gave me a new perspective on VFTs and their advantages. However, I still believe that actual field trips are a better option than virtual ones. I feel that the actual field trips provide more stimulation than virtual field trips, and are an important tool for learning. VFTs do provide many different opportunities for students, however, they cannot replace the opportunities of actual field trips. Thanks for the post!
Tyler A. Eytchison
Hi Thomas!
Reading about the possibilities that VFTs provide for students and teachers got me so excited! I love how you pointed out that VFTs create "dynamic dialogue with others around the world, the walls vanish and learning becomes multicultural." Not only do the "walls vanish" but the travel time and costs involved! I also agree with Tyler's response that actual field trips do provide a valuable stimulation so maybe as teachers, we could incorporate both virtual and actual field trips into the school year so that students do not miss out on anything? Nevertheless, just having the possibility to go "on a field trip" to anywhere we desire is still incredible to me. Great post!
~Marissa Carney
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