Virtual Field Trips
Presented by Laurie Fowler,
Technology in Motion Training Specialist
What is a Virtual Field Trip?
How do I make a Virtual Field Trip?
How do Virtual Field Trips compare to "real" field trips?
Where can I go?
VFT Examples
References
Search Engines
Graphics Sites

What is a Virtual Field Trip?
A virtual field trip (VFT) is a standards-based Internet activity which allows students to visit places and times that would not otherwise be possible. Most VFTs are posted to the Internet in the form of a web page of links that a teacher wants her students to visit.  VFTs can encourage different kinds of learning activities like writing a descriptive paragraph, creating a travel brochure, keeping a travel diary, publishing an advertisement for the place visited,  making a PowerPoint “commercial” for the location, and many more.
 


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How do I make a Virtual Field Trip?
To prepare a virtual field trip, the teacher must choose a destination, locate grade-level appropriate resources, construct a web page, create meaningful learning tasks, and create rubrics for assessment.  It is also important for the teacher to choose a destination that is aligned with state and national standards for science, social studies, or other subject.

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How do Virtual Fields Trips compare to “real” field trips?
 

Virtual Field Trips 
Real Field Trips
No transportation required. Transportation arrangements require much advanced planning.
No cost involved. Monetary cost to school and/or students.
Not limited by time or place.  Limited to places in region within driving distance.
Can be repeated again and again Usually a one-time experience
Allow students to move at their own pace Group leader dictates pace of trip
Insures safety of students Concern for student safety
All students can participate. Some students may not participate because of cost or other factors.

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Where can I go?
A VFT might take students to 1940s Paris, to Ancient Rome, to the moon, or inside the human heart.  The possibilities of VFT travels are limited only by the teacher’s imagination.

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VFT Examples
CyberTrip USA http://www.lauriefowler.com/statesvft.html
Paris on Parade http://www.lauriefowler.com/parisvft.html
Roman Open Air Museum Hechingen-Stein http://www.villa-rustica.de/tour/toure.html
A Virtual Tour of the Sun http://www.michielb.nl/od95/

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References:
Field Trips http://www.field-guides.com/about.htm
Virtual Field Trips from Surfaquarium http://surfaquarium.com/virtual.htm
Virtual Tours from The Teacher’s Guide http://www.theteachersguide.com/virtualtours.html

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Search Engines:
AltaVista http://www.altavista.com
Excite http://www.excite.com
Google http://www.google.com
InfoSeek http://www.go.com
Lycos http://www.lycos.com
Yahoo http://www.yahoo.com

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Graphics Sites:
Animation Factory http://www.animationfactory.com
Awesome Clip Art http://www.awesomeclipartforkids.com/schoolzone.html
Clips Ahoy http://www.clipsahoy.com/school.htm
Discovery School http://school.discovery.com/clipart/
FreeFoto http://www.freefoto.com/
FreeStockPhotos http://www.freestockphotos.com/
School Clip Art http://www.school-clip-art.com/
The Teachers Spot Clip art http://www.theteacherspot.com/school_clipart.html
TeachNet School Clip Art http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/clipart/school/

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Credits
School bus graphic from School Clip Art
Background from http://www.boogiejack.com/free_graphics.html
Arrows from http://www.iconbazaar.com/arrows/pg03.html