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Virtual Fieldtrips

Travel within your Classroom

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What is it?

Is it like a Webquest?

How is it different from a Webquest?

How do I use it?

Looks like work…….but is it?

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A WebQuest defined by Bernie Dodge at San Diego State University:

"an inquiry-oriented activity in which

some or all of the information that students interact with comes from

resources on the Internet."

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A Virtual Fieldtrip, (VFT) takes you someplace. …

basically on a guided tour, virtually.

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Kim Foley Bernie Dodge _________ = ___________

Tramline & WebquestVirtual Fieldtrips

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A virtual field trip is a guided exploration through the Web that organizes a collection

of pre-screened, thematically based

web pages into a structured

online learning experience. (Foley, 2003)

Sounds like a lesson plan, yes?

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At its best,

a VFT is a real time guided field trip that is supported by interactive pages

on the Web that have been selected by educators

and arranged in a "thread" that teachers and students can follow

in lineal or broad searching.

The live links with experts on-site in real-time is a key aspect in creating a "real" experience for

students.

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http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2507464n&tag=api

CBS News shows how videoconference capability can create a ‘real-time’ personal

experience for students.

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There are a number of different formats used for VFTs.On A web search you will find thousands of trips.

Some trips simply consist of a list of links on one web page. Other trips use some type of navigator (or buttons) to move

through the tour.

Virtual Classroom Field TripsVirtual Field Trips. Take a Field Trip · Create a Field Trip · Visit Related Sites. Comments or questions to: resources@uen.org · Utah Education Network.www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/ -Tramline - the Virtual Field Trips Company, Home of TourMaker SoftwareIncludes virtual science tours on nature topics. Includes related educational resources.www.field-trips.org/ -Tramline Virtual Field TripsJoin a VFT discussion list - for educators devoted to the topic of Virtual Field Trips in education. Printable list of the field trips and descriptions. ...www.field-trips.org/trips.htm -Show more results from www.field-trips.org

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Virtual Field Trips for the Classroom or Home at Internet 4 ClassroomsFind Virtual Field Trips for Students and Children at Internet 4 Classrooms, internet resources for teachers and students, children and parents.www.internet4classrooms.com › Links for K-12 - Cached - SimilarVirtual field tripJun 21, 2009 ... VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS SITE · VIRTUAL FIELDTRIPS · VIRTUAL NYC ZOOS · VIRTUAL SAFARI · VIRTUAL SCHOOLHOUSE · VIRTUAL REALTIME TOURS ...www.techtrekers.com/virtualft.htm - Cached - SimilarField Trip Archive - HomeworkSpot.comHop aboard the HomeworkSpot.com bus for a virtual field trip.www.homeworkspot.com › Field Trip - Cached - SimilarVirtually Hawaii: Virtual Field TripsThis part of Virtually Hawaii provides what we call "Virtual Field Trips", which take you on different tours around the islands. ...satftp.soest.hawaii.edu/space/hawaii/virtual.field.trips.html - Cached - Similar

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SOME RESOURCES FOR YOU:

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For VFT: visit Tramline http://www.field-trips.org/trips.htm

For a free trial-download of Tramline, tour-maker software:

http://www.tramline.com/tm/download.htm

Or, your VFT could be created as a website. Free tutorials for Fireworks,

Flash, Dreamweaver, PhotoShop and Web design:

http://www.entheosweb.com/tutorials.asp

Visit TeacherWeb for a free 30 trial.

But…..

Most commonly used: PowerPoint

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Two very useful sites: SitesForTeachers.comKathy Schrocks’ site

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How is a VFT used?

• To simulate a field trip• To reinforce learning before or after an

actual field trip• To utilize the WWW for extending a

learning experience• To synthesize a learning experience• To encourage collaborative learning.

Think the buzzword: differentiated learning!!

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To simulate a field trip:

Go where you have no time or access to go.

Offer the field trip experience when funds or

scheduling make a field trip impossible.

Encourage students toward independent use of

technology.

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Reinforce learning before or after an actual field trip

Preview what students will see and learn before an actual

fieldtrip. (motivation)

Focuses students toward what you want them to notice.

(objectives)

Engage students by piquing their curiosity, and stirring up

anticipation of what they will experience.

Check for understanding through the VFT after the actual

field trip. (synthesis)

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• Utilize the WWW by extending a learning experience via related sites.

• Teach students to do web searches• Use search engines to find specific content

• Google• Yahoo• Yahooligans (recommended for students)• Teacher-guided , constructed searches

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• Search Tips:

• Use specific search words, most important word first.

• Use quotes to find sites that include the full word or

phrase

• Check spelling

• Don’t’ use articles: a, an and the

• Don’t use plurals.

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• Synthesize the field trip experience by offering a wrap up virtual experience

• E-pals• Create a travel brochure• Create a travel journal

• Can you add to this list?

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Encourage collaborative learning.

Group students to create commercialsencouraging visitors to the site of their fieldtrip

Create think-pair-share activites.

The ways are endless for each discipline……you are the expert….!

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TIME TO DESIGN…

The steps:

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Gather Information

Create folders, and save resources;

build bibliography as you go

Collect links, sounds, and action

buttons, clip art

Decide on a theme

Focus objectives, get them excited

Apply standards, print tickets,

passes, permission slips…

Design a template and

a site map

Timing: how long?How deep for the

web access?

Create a storyboard, and a planning template

(see handout)

The workflow:

Keys to success: be organized! save your stuff!

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TramlineAround the World in 80

Clicks

The Homework

Spot

Web Resources for

Educators

Blackwell’s Best Virtual Field Trips

Check out these VFT’s online:

You might find some useful; or you could use these as exemplars to design your own.

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• Finalize bibliography• Create hyperlinks for points of web

access• Proofread all slides

• Number slides for easy reference.• Add navigation buttons for

homepage access from all points of your VFT

Final Touches

• Check that all links are working and current, (each time you use the VFT)

• For this reason, list all hyperlinks on one page for easy verification.Proofread

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Check for understanding• Create a post-test, or lesson

Design benchmarks

• Depending on the size and scope of your VFT, benchmarks help students stay accountable.

Create rubrics, grade scales

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Webquest workflow:Compare/ what can we borrow for our VFT?

Introduction The Task

The Process Resources Evaluation Conclusion

Teacher Notes**

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Feel free to communicate on a personal level to

your students.

Feel free to list notes to yourself as you are

designing.

You can always cut/paste later into a

document/folder.

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Let’s share….in what ways might you make use of this tool?

Come forward and add to the list.

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Thank you for coming!

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