Virtual Field Trips

1. Virtual Field Trips Julie Sway Technology Director Brookstone School

2. jsway@brookstoneschool.org A copy of the presentation is on the GAETC wiki for this session.

4. Pros • No reserving buses • No buses breaking down • No finding chaperones/drivers • No worries about chaperones/drivers not showing up • No weather issues • No complaints about missing other classes • Can be repeated • Can go places far, far away • Less expensive, if not free • Can move at own pace • Safer

5. Cons • Can lack “hands on” learning aspect • Want it to be as active as can possibly make it • Preparation time • First time through – more time intensive

6. What is it? • Using resources and features on the Web • Web sites • Web cams • Images • Sounds

7. Differences • How differs from a “Webquest” or Multi-media presentation • A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com/w/page/19919558/Glos… • Some are very similar • That’s OK as long as you know what you are getting • All in the “marketing” • Some are very different • Getting better

8. What makes a good field trip? • Connect to learning • Expand on knowledge • Planning is key

9. Planning • Who – Just your class or entire grade • Consider taking students to a different room • Rearrange desks • Sit on floor • Have a picnic – younger students • Bring in food specific to region or timeframe if possible

10. planning • Time zone differences • Date differences • MM/DD/YY versus DD.MM.YY • 1’s look like 7’s, 7’s look like 9’s • Cultural holidays

11. planning • Test out every link • Some sites are definitely harder to navigate than others • Check different browsers • May look better or run better with different browsers • Check videos • May need a specific player, such as “Quicktime” downloaded

12. Props & activities • Relevant music • Authentic clothing • Props • Anything to make material less abstract • Let students move around

13. Backup plan • Reserve a computer lab or the library • Demo a section and let the students do individually • Download videos • Zamzar.com • Savevid.com • Keepvid.com • Reschedule and go with a regular lesson.

14. General recommendations • Use a mouse vs. the touch pad • Let students take turns “driving” the mouse

15. Virtual Field Trip sites • Skype / OoVoo • Trips associated with a specific site • Sites that list a variety of topics • Sites with lists specific to a topic or discipline • Web cams

16. Virtual Field Trips • Skype or OoVoo • Vet – tour animal hospital , see surgeons at work, watch them treat different kinds of animals, ask questions • Author – speak with as part of fieldtrip • Think of who you know, what they do professionally or as a hobby

17. Virtual Field Trips • Some virtual tours are associated with the location, such as museums, on their web site. • Some sites were harder to find their virtual tour on than others • Bookmark the link and/or do a screen clipping if you can

18. Examples

19. http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/

22. Screen clipping taken: 10/19/2011 10:42 PM

23. Virtual Field Trips • Some field trips were created with software • Tramline • Some links were broken • OK for younger students (elementary age) • “Virtual” sites • Museum • Scientific location

30. Virtual Field Trips • Some sites will list related sites for many topics

34. math

35. Virtual Field Trips • American Museum of Natural History • Clips of curator describing the diorama. Like having a tour guide along, except for asking questions. • Has sound clip of bird calls

39. Youtube / teachertube

41. Google Earth