Hi Group,
After reading this article, I am so excited for all that
Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) have to offer (Zanetis, 2010, p.20)! The author, Jan Zanetis, was very persuasive as
she shared how these VFTs offer a great alternative to actual field trips for
both students and teachers (p. 20). She
highlighted all of the alluring components of VFTs and anticipated many of my
initial apprehensions. In essence, she
explained how we as teachers have the opportunity to “take” our students to all
of the “far-away [and] enticing destinations” (20) without the traveling costs
and headaches involved and without ever leaving the classroom. All of the aspects of a field trip are
involved including live demonstrations, tours, hands-on activities, and so much
more either through the use of previously recorded “asynchronous” (p. 20) or
live “interactive synchronous” formats (p. 21).
As soon as I heard that special “h.323 videoconferencing
codecs” were needed to use the online interactive synchronous format, however, I
was put off by the idea because installing a device of that nature would most
likely be too expensive and, therefore, unavailable. Apparently, though, “approximately
30% of U.S.
I would also love to have my students participate in a
“field trip” on the E-field Trips website because they could go at their own
pace and explore a location as much as they wanted. Also, the organization provides a “trip
journal, the Virtual Visit (a streaming video), an Ask the Expert tool, and a
hosted Web Chat” (p. 20). This experience would help to fulfill the Research
and Information Fluency standard (NET 3).
Essentially, VFTs enable teachers and students to “visit”
and experience organizations that had previously been unavailable to them due
to distance issues and travel costs (p. 20).
I found it interesting that most students “have no problem adjusting to
interaction with an on-screen instructor” and that they “often find the
experience novel and engaging” (p. 21).
If the students are interested in learning this way, I feel that, as
their teacher, I should be willing to incorporate VFTs into my lessons!
Zanetis,
J. (2010). The Beginner's Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips. Learning
and Leading with
Technology, 37 (6), pp. 20-21.
~Marissa Carney
Hey Marissa,
ReplyDeleteI think that your article brings up a lot of interesting points about Virtual Field Trips. I would have to agree with you that they seem like they provide a good opportunity to experience places that are too expensive or too far. If these field trips are as interactive as they appear to be, it could open up new ventures for teaching. The only issue I see with Virtual Field Trips is if they become replacements for actual field trips. I feel that actual field trips are extremely important for students, and offer more for the student than Virtual Field Trips. VFTs should only be used to access information to places that are inaccessible. However, they appear to be viable alternatives. Great post.
Tyler A. Eytchison
Marissa,
ReplyDeleteI think the Virtual Field Trips sound full of potential as vehicles for learning and should be incorporated into lessons. They would serve as excellent replacements for traditional documentaries as they engage the same senses and offer the same information, just in a more interactive manner. However, I do not believe they should replace "real field trips." I am thinking of the trips I took to the Huntington Library's conservatory and the exhibits found there. It is one thing to be told of the heat emanating from the compost heat and another thing entirely to feel it for oneself. Thank you for the informative write up.
Mark Pust