Virtual Field Trips

Schools substituting field trips with video links

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/969989.html
Imagine yourself in a fifth grade classroom. The seats are placed in rows, one right next to each other. In front of the classroom is a large screened-projector with a woman teaching about tide-pool ecology. You would think it was just a movie at first but in today’s society the popularity of Virtual Field Trips, like the one in the fifth grade classroom are being used.
At Kingswood Elementary School students were able to listen to waves, learn about tide pools and talk to a park ranger from Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County. The park ranger was able to virtually interact with the students, showing them different sea creatures and quizzing their knowledge of different animals.
The videoconferencing technology allows us as future teachers to teach about places we might otherwise not see. What if there was a child who had never been to the beach? By being on the virtual excursion the student would be able to not only be at the beach but learn about it at the same time,
Other classes at schools throughout California and throughout the entire world use virtual field trips. However, the interesting thing I read was that in California most of the park rangers’ lessons are directly tied to the science and social studies standards public schools are expected to teach. The trips are offered by the state Parks and Recreation Department through a program in which they don’t have to pay for but must have the right technology to participate. This includes a high-speed internet connection and a screen and a camera for videoconferencing.
Some critics of this article were worried about Virtual Field Trips. Many expressed the need to actually get out there and be able to engage all their senses. I would have to agree with this point. On the other hand though, school budgets and gas prices have caused hard times to be able to travel. "I understand why teachers and schools are doing it. … But we need to make sure those virtual experiences do not take over for real experiences, because they do not compare." said Martin LeBlanc, The Sierra Club’s national youth education director for outdoor education at schools and after-school programs that serve low-income children. Overall, I can see both the pros and cons of Virtual Field Trips.
I believe this videoconferencing has provided a good foundation for students to get comfortable using technology and learning worldwide. Being able to interact with another human being thousands of miles away gives the opportunity to share what they know and what they want to learn about. In addition, the students’ will be able to take pride in themselves by gaining knowledge from across the world.
Video-conferencing, like the one mentioned in the article, is a synchronous linking of individuals. I think this is really interesting because, just like when you’re on a real field trip, you are able to establish a sense of shared space among everyone who is working on a common task but are not in the same physical area that is being taught about. We are able to observe each others facial expressions, hear voices, and work on things at the same time.
Further investigation and research would be useful to see if the students actually learn more by being at the actual place or just as equally when sitting in front of a screen. It would be interesting to see if students who interacted virtually read better, had a more advanced vocabulary or a better comprehension of the content knowledge. I say this because on some elementary school field trips I remember certain kids paying no attention at all but with this interactive virtual field trip they may be more engaged, and thus learn more.