Take A Virtual Trip!

Topic for the Week:  Virtual Experiences

 

There's nothing quite like a field trip: That day when permission slips grant students golden tickets to an experience outside the classroom.

 

Although virtual field trips don't physically bring kids to new locations, they make use of the web and video to amplify online learning in an experiential way. Virtual field trips can be informative and inspiring.  They are inclusive because they don’t depend on funding from PTO (that may or may not be there), grant applications, etc.  All the ones we are going to talk about today are FREE.

 

So where do you start? You might already have a topic in mind, which will narrow your choices. However, you'll also want to consider what type of virtual field trips to try. 

 

Livestreaming - means students watch a live feed from a camera in another location. 

Interactive exploration offers students a multimedia experience that's usually more hands-on and open-ended.  This might look like a 3d online tour.

Video visits take kids to a location (by video) where a host or narrator provides information.

Scheduled and guided virtual field trips feature a live guide or museum docent -- often on-site -- who takes students through the experience virtually.

The Run Down:

(02:04) Danelle's big ISTE announcement
(04:40) This weeks topic: Virtual Trips
(05:59) Types of Virtual Experiences
(7:49) Advice for picking a Virtual Trip for your class
(10:25) Google Arts & Culture

All the Links:

Livestreaming or Live Cams - 

Live Cameras | San Diego Zoo
Webcams | Smithsonian's National Zoo 

 

Virtual Field Trips/Tours - 

National Museum of Natural History Virtual Tours 
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States
Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExploringByTheSeat 

Take a Virtual Visit to a National Park
Educator Resources - Teachers (U.S. National Park Service)
Virtual Field Trips - The Nature Conservancy
Programs | National Air and Space Museum
Field Trip Opportunities | NASA
HistoryView    

 

Google Offerings:

https://www.google.com/maps/about/treks/#/grid Great Barrier Reef one is AWESOME 

Google Arts & Culture and National Parks

https://artsandculture.google.com/ if you have VR in your school

 

Tech Tool of the Week:

(12:30) Remember that MACUL grants are open!!

(01:16) Moment of Zen:

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

― St. Augustine

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden
Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden