Blogs can be used in so many different ways to help expand a
students learning. One thing I found that is a good use of blogging is through
virtual field trips. A virtual field trip is a guided exploration through the
world wide web that organizes pre-screened, thematically based web pages into
an online learning experience.
These field trips can be posted on a blog which
allows the student to view them from anywhere. Students would be able to access
the virtual field trips and then discuss or answer questions with their
classmates.
These field trips allow students who may not get to travel
or have the same experiences as other students in real life get to see
different places first hand through the computer. Students could go on any
vacation they wanted through a virtual field trip.
For a teacher to prepare these virtual field trips it can
take as much time as going on a regular field trip. The teacher must have a
purpose for the trip as well as a way to guide the students through the trip.
To set the purpose for the virtual field trip the teacher needs to give the
students a question that they will then be answering onto the blog. When these
trips are done correctly it is a great experience for the students and to
combine it with blogging makes it even better.
Hi Ashleigh,
ReplyDeleteI like this idea because you can involve parents as well. Students and parents could walk through the virtual field trip together. You could also include videos to help with the field trip. I once created a virtual field trip for the Museum of Natural History that included videos. Students also had to explore the website and go on a scavenger hunt. I also like how you mentioned setting the purpose. Students should always know why they are doing something.
I love VFTs and have integrated them into the EDTC610 course--scavenger hunts, to!
ReplyDeleteI think virtual field trips are something that more teachers need to incorporate into lessons!
ReplyDelete