Friday, March 4, 2011

Virtual Fieldtrips

The internet is constantly changing how students learn and interact. There are a lot of ways that children all over the world can learn even with limited resources provided they are connected to the internet of course. One way is through virtual field trips. Children now have the opportunities to virtually visit some of the world's foremost cultural centers. It might not be the same as visiting in person but it is an alternative way to learn new things, another culture or history.

Art Project, powered by Google

Explore museums from around the world, discover and view hundreds of artworks at incredible zoom levels, and even create and share your own collection of masterpieces.

Interactive Oceans
Project to establish a regional-scale ocean observatory in the northeast Pacific Ocean.


Xpedition Hall
The interactive “museum” that takes you on geography journeys. Here you’ll climb a mountain, hover over the Earth, speed across Europe, visit an archeological dig, and even order sushi—plus games, animations, and more!

Living Landscapes which is part of National Geographic's Xpedition Hall is a  good example of virtual field trip for elementary students. This virtual field trip can be an excellent resource for forth grade students while studying UNIT 4 INTERACTIONS OF AIR, WATER, AND LAND (K-8 Science Scope and Sequence p. 5) when students are supposed to investigate the negative and positive impact of extreme natural events (earthquake, volcanoes, etc.) on living things. This field trip is interesting! There is a slideshow for each extreme weather conditions and the pictures are on a loop. An example of a real event (where it happened, when it happened for each of the slide shows is provided as well.

Using a virtual field trip is very useful in teaching children weather conditions simply because you can't manufacture forces of nature by demand or when you want it for your lessons. Aside from that even if there is extreme weather going on it would be too dangerous to take children there and the schools will be closed anyway. thus, I can say that virtual field trop is practical and convenient to teach concepts that only happened at specific times of the year or about event events that are too dangerous to observe first hand.

You can also download Virtual Field Trip from NASA AMES Research Center.


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