Virtual Field Trips

Objectives:
 Individuals will create a virtual fieldtrip for students

Introduction:
Virtual fieldtrips are a way of exploring places, events, and various time periods without leaving the school.  Pictures and information from web sites are used to guide students on a new journey. Because of recent terrorist events many schools are prohibited from taking field trips to major cities.  Many schools are prohibited from leaving the school for any reason at all!  Well, with today's technology you don't need to leave the school. Students can experience what you want them to experience from a computer.

Activity:
You are going to develop a virtual fieldtrip for students.  The fieldtrip should be subject and age-appropriate to your students or the students you plan on working with as a media specialist.  You will begin by previewing fieldtrips already developed by other instructors to get an idea of what is expected.  Pay close attention to the structure of the fieldtrips. They are differences in layout.

http://infusion.allconet.org/virtual/CivilWarPhotograhVirualTourSite.html

****http://infusion.allconet.org/virtual/Petronella/Practice.html#Tour

****http://infusion.allconet.org/virtual/Raines/volcanotrip.html

****http://www.field-trips.org/sci/rainforest/index.htm

****http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourFames.cgi?tour_id=7051

****http://www.field-trips.org/tours/ss/america/_tourlaunch1.htm
This one is extremely sophisticated!

You have had the opportunity to view a few fieldtrips. There are thousands more out there!!! If you would like to peruse collections of fieldtrips already developed, scroll down to additional resources.

When developing a fieldtrip, the following guidelines at  http://surfaquarium.com/vftguide.htm  will be helpful.  Visit this site and read the guidelines.

Assignment:
Now you are ready to get started. You will need to decide whether you want to prepare the fieldtrip all on one page or have a teacher, a student, and a field trip page.  Choose whatever works best for you.  You need to include these components in your fieldtrip:
Objectives:  State what you expect the students to learn from the fieldtrip adventure.

Procedure:  List or state step by step what the students will need to do to participate in the fieldtrip.

Introduction:  Include some information to get the students tapping into their background knowledge and excited.

Tips for Success:  Not all of the examples have tips for success, but you should include important tips you want the students to remember.  This is a place they can refer to while you are helping other students.

Activity: List the stops you want the students to take on their virtual fieldtrip.  Link these sites to the assignment so students won't be wandering around the Internet or wasting time going to bookmarks.   *****The activity should be accompanied by a worksheet of some type where you want the students to record facts about what they are learning or answering questions. (Think about it.....you would never just open the bus door in Washington D.C. and tell the students to meet the bus at 3:00.  They need direction)

Follow Up Activity:  Develop a brief follow up activity for the students to do after completing the fieldtrip.  They could develop a souvenir to show the places they visited and what they learned.
 

Additional Resources:
http://www.field-trips.org/trips.htm
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/fieldtrips2.htm
http://www.fieldtrips.org/?content=selecttrip
http://infusion.allconet.org/virtual/
http://www.xcursioncentral.com/sub_x.cfm

Rubric:
Components                         1                           2                                 3
Objective Doesn't state objectives States curriculum related objectives States curriculum related objectives
Procedure Steps for proceeding with the field trip are NOT step by step Steps aren't detailed, but are step-by-step Detailed step-by-step directions are noted for the students to follow
Introduction No Introduction Includes an opening, but is somewhat weak An opening that gets the students thinking about what they are about to learn
~Taps into their prior knowledge
~Increases their interest level
Tips For Success No tips for success Few tips for success are included Includes several troubleshooting tips and reminders for students to help them stay on task
Activity A site is listed, but not linked

No worksheet

A few sites are listed or one site is listed, but not linked

A worksheet is provided

Includes several linked websites or one good website for students to visit
~Includes a worksheet for students to complete during their trip 
Follow Up No follow up A follow up that permits only recall of facts Allows students to apply what they have learned on their adventure