My Blog Article for Week 2

The article that I researched, "Virtual field trips: best practices" focused on the most effective ways to conduct virtual field trips. The authors, E. Barbara Klemm and Gail Tuthill, both agree that field trips in general are able to have strong impacts on students. When done properly, they can really help students learn more about what they are experiencing.
Though these trips are beneficial, there are some places that students are unable to visit because of the lack of funding or because of the distance. Virtual field trips can take them to these places through the computer. VFTs can be used before a field trip in order to prepare the students, they can be used after the field trip in order to apply what they have learned, or they can substitute for them completely. Either way, there are certain ways that VFTs can be most beneficial.
The success of a virtual field trip can depend on how the teacher sets up the trip. When creating the VFT, teachers need to have students participate in cooperative learning; interacting with other students and the teacher. There also needs to be questions about the material that provoke problem solving and discovery. Expectations of the students must be made clear and the material being covered should relate to the classroom material. Gender, culture, and learning preferences should also be taken into consideration when setting up the VFTs.

This type of technology supports teaching and learning because it achieves both. A teacher must go through the steps of creating a virtual field trip or finding one that fits the material being taught. The teachers can go to websites in order to find one or can visit the site him or herself and video record everything and then post it. This takes care of the teaching aspect. The learning aspect comes into play when the students experience the work of the teacher. If done properly, most students will learn more than they would by reading a text. They will be challenged by thought provoking questions and will get to experience the distant place.

Personally, I think that virtual field trips are a great idea. I have never actually experienced one but i do remember how much I enjoyed field trips. I think that they are a good break from the normal classroom ruitine and they will definitely interest more students than not. I think that the schools who aren't able to take field trips should try this method because it will give the students something to look forward to and it can take them far away from where they are. Done properly, i think that this technology can be greatly utilized.

I think that further investigation and research should be done on what virtual field trips are the most interesting. Also, my article did no mention how the students feel about VFTs and I think that the students should be questioned about their experiences. Another area of research could be on how often these VFTs should be used. Most field trips are yearly so should VFTs be yearly as well?

Samantha Shaffer