Virtual Field Trips: A Sea of Possibilites
Wouldn't it be cool to explore the icy wasteland of Antartica, travel to the Moon, or even Mars? In today's classroom, it is possible for the impossible to become possible. The article "No Permission Slip Needed" by Ken Fuson talks about just that. The article discusses how virtual field trips broaden students experiences. Students are able to travel to the Great Barrier Reef, survey hurricane damage, and go on fieldtrips with students in Mexico. The article talks about how the interest in virtual fieldtrips is growing. Now there are over 850 virtual fieldtrips. This is an eight fold increase from two short years ago. The article also discusses the expense of the technolgy it takes to condcut these virtual field trips.The article also mentions grants and organizations available to fund these technological endevours.
Virtual field trips take a Constructivist approach to teaching. Constructivism considers the engagement of students in meaningful experiences as the essence of experiential learning. In the article it talks about how highschool students in Stamford, Texas produced a course on cotton growing for other students. Virtual fieldtrips also provide a concrete learning experience for students as well as an abstract one. In one field trip students took a virtual tour of the Great Barrier Reef. In another instance, one student compared college placement scores with a student in Canada.
I feel that virtual fieldtrips engage students. It is not a passive learning experience. It is and active learning experience. They are learning so much about the World around them without the expense of traveling. In the article one teacher said, "It is really an oppurtunity to bring the World to our students, because our students can't go out to the world". It is important for students to be exposed to new cultures and the rapid growth of technology is enabeling it.
I think it would be very useful to research the effetcs that virtual fieldtrips have on students. Do virtual field trips help to make students more active learners and members of society? It would be good to see if these learning experiences help to raise critical thinking skills as well as grades in classes.
If you want to read the article "No Permission Slip Needed" by Ken Fuson follow this link:http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.fgcu.edu/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=13&sid=66567c67-8c73-4d73-9ff8-a2f2e8cc4cdd%40SRCSM2
posted by spot4 @ 6:06 PM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
I completely agree with the "bringing the world to the student's." This is what VFT's do. They are accessible for everyone, and the whole world can communicate together-what an experience.
I would love to see the research on whether VFT's help student's to become active learners. This would be an interesting thing to know.
I love the opportunity that VFT's give for the teachers as well as the student's. My worry is that for some student's, a simple trip to the zoo could get replaced by a VFT. I think that VFT's should only be used for exploring and learning about the unreachable subjects. The simple one's that can be learned around the county should be learned by a traditional field trip. This way the student's still get the hands-on experience, and the ooh, and ahh effect, the true reality of seeing certain things.
I agree with you say VTFs help students but you can't get more active than actually being there. VTFs are great ideas if your trip is to the moon or under sea but nothing is better than being there up close and personal. I believe that is the best way to get a child actively involved.
Great Article. I agree that virtual field trips help students get involved in the world around them without the financial burdens. I also agree that there needs to be more research on the effects that virtual field trips have on students learning.
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