A Virtual High School A Virtual High School Field TripField Trip

Steven BauernschmittSteven Bauernschmitt

Cont702sumCont702sum

June 2009June 2009

What is a Virtual Field Trip?What is a Virtual Field Trip?

A virtual field trip (or panoramic tour) is a A virtual field trip (or panoramic tour) is a simulation of an existing location, usually simulation of an existing location, usually composed of images, a sequence of composed of images, a sequence of hyperlinked still or video images, and/or hyperlinked still or video images, and/or virtual models of the real location. They also virtual models of the real location. They also may use other multimedia elements such as may use other multimedia elements such as sound effects, music, narration, and text. As sound effects, music, narration, and text. As opposed to actual tourism, a virtual tour is opposed to actual tourism, a virtual tour is typically accessed on a personal computer.typically accessed on a personal computer.

Who Author the Virtual Field trip?Who Author the Virtual Field trip?

Students can access online Virtual Field Trips Students can access online Virtual Field Trips established by other online providers!established by other online providers!

An example of an Author isAn example of an Author ishttp://www.vickiblackwell.com/vft.htmlhttp://www.vickiblackwell.com/vft.html

Students can create their own Virtual Field Trip!Students can create their own Virtual Field Trip!Students can use TourMaker software to create online Students can use TourMaker software to create online

Virtual Field Trip that can be shared anytime, Virtual Field Trip that can be shared anytime, anywhere using the most current news and anywhere using the most current news and

information available!information available!http://www.field-trips.org/trips.htmhttp://www.field-trips.org/trips.htm

When Would You Use a Virtual Field When Would You Use a Virtual Field Trip Strategy?Trip Strategy?

The virtual field trip could be used in the following situations The virtual field trip could be used in the following situations as a viable strategy:as a viable strategy:

Great interactive way to reinforce “Learning goals and Great interactive way to reinforce “Learning goals and Curricular Expectations”Curricular Expectations”

It’s an interactive way for students to demonstrate It’s an interactive way for students to demonstrate “Curricular Understanding” “Curricular Understanding”

A great method for “Engaging Students”A great method for “Engaging Students” Appeals to a variety of “Learning Styles”Appeals to a variety of “Learning Styles” Great Teaching and Remedial strategy!Great Teaching and Remedial strategy!

Strengths & Weaknesses of the Strengths & Weaknesses of the Virtual Field Trip Strategy!Virtual Field Trip Strategy!

StrengthsStrengthsVirtual field trips taken Virtual field trips taken online can take a student to online can take a student to locations too far away to locations too far away to travel to or too expensive to travel to or too expensive to visit. Virtual field trips can visit. Virtual field trips can take a student back in time, take a student back in time, into outer space, or into the into outer space, or into the microscopic world.microscopic world.

WeaknessesWeaknessesVirtual field trips do not Virtual field trips do not always convey the true always convey the true three-dimensional nature three-dimensional nature of objects. They also do not of objects. They also do not convey the non-visual and convey the non-visual and aural feelings of touch and aural feelings of touch and smell, etc. The VT can be smell, etc. The VT can be somewhat less beneficial somewhat less beneficial than really being in the than really being in the field. It lacks the genuine field. It lacks the genuine nature of discovery!nature of discovery!

Strengths of Creating Your Own Strengths of Creating Your Own Virtual Field Trip!Virtual Field Trip!

It’s an interactive way for students to It’s an interactive way for students to demonstrate “Curricular Understanding” demonstrate “Curricular Understanding” and work “Cooperatively” in a technological and work “Cooperatively” in a technological setting!setting!

An exciting strategy for “Engaging Students” An exciting strategy for “Engaging Students” in exploring their “Creative Abilities!”in exploring their “Creative Abilities!”

It would make a great “Teaching and It would make a great “Teaching and Remedial” strategy!Remedial” strategy!

Connecting to the Curriculum!Connecting to the Curriculum!A virtual field trip could be used in the high school setting as a strategy A virtual field trip could be used in the high school setting as a strategy

to reinforce curriculum expectations in many subject areas such as:to reinforce curriculum expectations in many subject areas such as:

ScienceScienceApplication to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Application to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and

general science are boundless! It could include the human body, the general science are boundless! It could include the human body, the chemical industry, aviation, and our universe!chemical industry, aviation, and our universe!

Social StudiesSocial StudiesApplications to History and Geography could include historical tours of Applications to History and Geography could include historical tours of

ancient civilizations and geographical sites such as oceans, volcanoes, ancient civilizations and geographical sites such as oceans, volcanoes, and significant landmarks. and significant landmarks.

Languages and The ArtsLanguages and The Arts Applications to Languages and the Arts could include a visit back in time to Applications to Languages and the Arts could include a visit back in time to

The Dark Ages, a visit with Shakespeare, or that of Leonardo da Vinci!The Dark Ages, a visit with Shakespeare, or that of Leonardo da Vinci!

How Do Virtual Field Trips Appeal to How Do Virtual Field Trips Appeal to Different Learning Style?Different Learning Style?

The use of a virtual field trips would be The use of a virtual field trips would be accommodating and appealing to all learning styles! accommodating and appealing to all learning styles!

The virtual field trip can be viewed as kinesthetic, The virtual field trip can be viewed as kinesthetic, logical, visual, verbal, and interpersonal through logical, visual, verbal, and interpersonal through

the use of this type of teaching strategy.the use of this type of teaching strategy.

Student Prerequisite Computer Skills! Student Prerequisite Computer Skills!

Students at the high school level would Students at the high school level would require basic computer skill in terms of require basic computer skill in terms of

browsing online source for virtual field trip.browsing online source for virtual field trip.

Students would require more advanced Students would require more advanced computer skills to create a virtual field trip. computer skills to create a virtual field trip. This would include the ability to create and This would include the ability to create and

upload a webpage.upload a webpage.

……Plan & Implementation!Plan & Implementation!

In planning and implementing a unit of study using a virtual field trip, it would be In planning and implementing a unit of study using a virtual field trip, it would be important to:important to:

• Apply a design down approach, understand where you want your students to be when Apply a design down approach, understand where you want your students to be when the unit of study is complete.the unit of study is complete.

• Identify how the overall and specific expectations are tied to the learning goals of the Identify how the overall and specific expectations are tied to the learning goals of the unit of study through a clustering process.unit of study through a clustering process.

• Map the expectations onto the Achievement Chart to address the Achievement Level Map the expectations onto the Achievement Chart to address the Achievement Level Categories and meaningful connections to other subject areas and expectationsCategories and meaningful connections to other subject areas and expectations

• Design a culminating activity and scoring rubric and/or checklist to accompany the Design a culminating activity and scoring rubric and/or checklist to accompany the culminating taskculminating task

• Design varied teaching/learning strategies where students are provided with Design varied teaching/learning strategies where students are provided with opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge/skills independently and cooperativelyopportunities to demonstrate their knowledge/skills independently and cooperatively

• Identify where the virtual field trip would fit with respect to your teaching strategies Identify where the virtual field trip would fit with respect to your teaching strategies and goals. and goals.

• Develop a range of assessment strategies, rubrics, checklists, tests to ensure that Develop a range of assessment strategies, rubrics, checklists, tests to ensure that students are assessed for grade level expectations.students are assessed for grade level expectations.

……Student Support Material!Student Support Material!

There is a tremendous number of support materials on the There is a tremendous number of support materials on the planning and implementation of a virtual field trip!planning and implementation of a virtual field trip!

• Online resources with respect to support software on the Online resources with respect to support software on the construction of a virtual field trip is easily accessible!construction of a virtual field trip is easily accessible!

• Virtual field trip construction demonstrations and guideline Virtual field trip construction demonstrations and guideline can be helpful!can be helpful!

• Suggestions for student application are also easily attainable!Suggestions for student application are also easily attainable!• Measures to supporting the virtual field trip online can easily Measures to supporting the virtual field trip online can easily

be determined and implemented!be determined and implemented!

……Cross-Curricular Links!Cross-Curricular Links!

The virtual field trip allows for amalgamation of The virtual field trip allows for amalgamation of language with units of study such as science, art, language with units of study such as science, art, history, mathematics, and geography.history, mathematics, and geography.Integrated learning experiences can motivate Integrated learning experiences can motivate students tremendously and adhere to their students tremendously and adhere to their individual learning styles individual learning styles The virtual field trip prepares students for school The virtual field trip prepares students for school experiences that could not normally be experiences that could not normally be accomplished through more traditional cross-accomplished through more traditional cross-curricular exercisescurricular exercises

……Students with Special Needs!Students with Special Needs!

Virtual field trip can accommodate and help Virtual field trip can accommodate and help Special Needs students to:Special Needs students to:

• Work in a non-threatening learning environment Work in a non-threatening learning environment • Increase independence in academic pursuitsIncrease independence in academic pursuits• Work at their own paceWork at their own pace• Master skills without the fear of failureMaster skills without the fear of failure• Receive instant, non-judgmental feedback on Receive instant, non-judgmental feedback on

learning activitieslearning activities• Exercise new skills as frequently as neededExercise new skills as frequently as needed

Planning Template/ChecklistPlanning Template/ChecklistCreating a Virtual Field Trip!Creating a Virtual Field Trip!

You should probably spend a little time planning before creating your virtual You should probably spend a little time planning before creating your virtual field trip.  field trip. 

1. Begin by deciding on the subject, types of images, descriptions, etc. you1. Begin by deciding on the subject, types of images, descriptions, etc. you want to include in the field trip.  want to include in the field trip. 

2. Design the overall structure of the virtual field trip. Where will it lead, what2. Design the overall structure of the virtual field trip. Where will it lead, what are the specific stops along the way. are the specific stops along the way.

3. Create a separate map which provides an outline of the field trip. This 3. Create a separate map which provides an outline of the field trip. This includes stops and various links to particular sites.includes stops and various links to particular sites.

2. Choose a template for your web page or pages. You can use a template2. Choose a template for your web page or pages. You can use a template supplied by an online resource or create your own template using software supplied by an online resource or create your own template using software applications such as Microsoft Front Page.applications such as Microsoft Front Page.

4. Create an index web page and then update the page each time you create4. Create an index web page and then update the page each time you create different stop on your tour or another link. different stop on your tour or another link. 

The End!The End!Suggested ResourcesSuggested Resources

How to make your own Virtual Tour!How to make your own Virtual Tour!

http://www.field-trips.org/tm/download.htmhttp://www.field-trips.org/tm/download.htm

Other links:Other links:

http://www.ncesd.net/vft/http://www.ncesd.net/vft/

http://www.vickiblackwell.com/vft.htmlhttp://www.vickiblackwell.com/vft.html