Virtual Field Trips

Virtual field trips are "trips" without leaving the classroom. These trips are all virtual on a computer, iPad, iPod, or any other technological device. A classroom can be viewing the great wall of China while sitting in their desks in Canton, Ohio. A virtual field trip explores a place or an object with videos, explanations, and interactive activities. Virtual field trips allow for explorations beyond the classroom to places that a school bus cannot easily take a class.
     In my future classroom, I would use virtual field trips to explore the other continents when we learn about them. I would have my computer connected to a SMART Board so that my class can interact with the field trip. I think I would also explore different places within the United States that our school cannot send us too. Or even factories and businesses. This allows for exploration outside my classroom with interactive pieces that I cannot provide.
     Pros of virtual classrooms include the easy access to anywhere in the world. Also, virtual field trips have many parts to them. Typically there is a video, some explanation, and sometime interactive portions. This allows students to interact with places and things they normally would not be able to. Also, virtual field trips can be free so the cost is a lot lower than going on an actual field trip. Some cons of virtual field trips is that it is only on a computer. There is not tactile interaction with a place. Some virtual field trips are not extensive and there may not be a good virtual trip for a place a teacher would like to interact with.


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