Zanetis, Jan (2010) The Beginner’s Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37 (6), 20-23. Retrieved April 14th 2010, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/20100304#pg22
The biggest advantage of Virtual Field Trips (VFTs), as author Jan Zanetis describes, is that they allow for students to experience places that they might not otherwise be afforded the opportunity to go. With difficult budget decisions filed trips are often one of the first things a school may have to let go. VFTs offer the opportunity for students to engage in interacting and exploring destinations with minimal to no cost to the students and school. A VFT can be asynchronous meaning they are available as pre-prepared video, pictures, text, and audio files through websites. These can be helpful in exploring museums and can be used as a supplement to lessons (Check out the links to helpful VFT aggregator sites below)
The other kind of VFT's are synchronous. They are interactive in real time. They can be used, for example, to connect students with professional lab tech's that will take the students through a lab that they might not have the resources for at their school. Synchronous VFTs require the use of h.323 video-conferencing technology. These are fairly expensive systems to set up but they are a one time expense that can greatly enrich a schools learning atmosphere. Zanetis notes that research has shown that 30% of U.S. schools have video conferencing equipment. For schools who do not have the equipment there are possibilities of requesting a demo of the technology. If funds for the equipment is an issue than funding may be matched through certain companies or grants written to pursue funds.
- How does this technology benefit students?
By providing students with the opportunity to interact with talented educators and experience places that would not be feasible to travel to like across state borders or even to Australia. The options are endless for videoconferencing to enrich the students learning.
- What would be an example of how video conferencing could enrich curriculum standards?
Many video conferencing programs are based on National Standards. In a science class students could start a laboratory section on the study of the human heart with a distance learning program taught by a physician from the Adventures in Medicine and Science Program at St. Louis University. After the interactive section the students could dissect animal hearts. This option would provide the students a chance to pose questions about hearts to an expert in that exact field.
Other Aggregate VFT resources:
E-Field Trips: http://www.efieldtrips.org/
Access Excellence Resource Center: http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/virtual.php
Gail Lovely Virtual Field Trip Sites: http://www.gaillovely.com/VirtualFieldTrips.htm
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