Journal 7: The Beginner's Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips, NETS V

Zanetis, J. (2009). The Beginner's guide to interactive virtual field trips. International society for technology and education, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25443&DirectListComboInd=D

The Beginner's Guide to Interactive Field Trips, by Jan Zanetis reports on the benefits and endless possibilities of virtual field trips. There are many types of field trips that can be accessed without leaving your city or town. Virtual field trips are conducted over the Internet. There are asynchronous virtual field trips, which are not delivered in real time. Asynchronous trips are hosted via podcast, touring a specific location such as a museum. The article has three resources to get you started. The asynchronized field trips offer online labs and ask the expert tools to aid in learning. Interactive field trips are real-time experiences where students learn from an informal educator. This article discusses the opportunities to engage, how to get started, and a list of award-winning content providers. With today’s economy, virtual field trips are a great way to complement instruction that may have been simply “cut” out of the curricula. I definitely see myself using Virtual Field Trips in the classroom. Budget cuts are restraints that are inevitable. With the help of Virtual Field Trips my students will have greater access to organizations out of the state, such as NASA. I am impressed that this technology is not limited to one specific age group, for example the puppet activity can be used as early as kindergarten.

1. Are there fees involved? Yes, there are often fees but the content provider, NASA, offer a free program. A teacher can possibly convince administrators of the multitude of benefits and compare costs with an actual field trip, if funding is available.
2. How do I get started? Check to see if your school has a videoconferencing unit. Check for grants. Start by visiting the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration www.cilc.org.