The Virtual Field Trips

2433 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Review

Introduction

Instructional technology has achieved great development in the last few decades, and Virtual Field T rips (VFTs) is definitely one of them. This paper will mainly discuss the definition of VFTs, the reason why it is needed, example of its application with screen shots, advantages and disadvantages; provide information on its future development as well as great resources links. Teachers and educationists will be interested most in this paper because it will further their existing understanding of VFTs, show them the future directions as well as present them with several helpful and practical websites.

What is Virtual Field Trips (VFTs)?

Foley (2001) writes,

…Virtual Field Trips are explorations through the Web, typically an organized set of links with a particular theme. Some trips simply consist of a list of links on one Web page, while other trips use some type of navigator (or buttons) to move through the tour. In its best implementation, it's a guided and annotated tour of pages on the Web that have been selected by educators and arranged in a 'thread' that students can follow from page to page, or site to site" (The Big Pocket Guide to Using & Creating Virtual Field Trips, Foley, 2001).

It is important to note that “virtual” here means “digital alternative representations of reality”. VFT currently is not an attempt to replace a virtual reality, whose intention is to get the user fully involved in an interactive computer-generated environment by using sensors and input devices such as data gloves and body suits and output devices such as head mounted displays and surround--sound audio systems. Instead, a VFT is simply an attempt to give more autonomy to the users, by...

... middle of paper ...

...stems today: an interactive casebook (http://www.wiley.com/college/ford test/index.html).

Garcia, J. M. (1993) The development of the electronic field trip to strengthen and enrich existing K-12 curriculum. Doctoral dissertation, Oklahoma State University.

Gilmour, I. (1997) Skiddaw Virtual Field Trip. A study of thermal metamorphism (http://earth2.open.ac.uk/Skiddaw/Text/Skiddaw.html).

Jenkins, A. & Williams, N. (1997) The aims and objectives of a virtual field course (http://www.geog.le.ac.uk /ufc/publications /paper001.html).

Stainfield, J., Fisher, P., Ford, B., & Solem, M. (2000). International virtual field trips: A new direction? Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 24(2), 255–263

UNWIN, D. (1996) The Virtual Field Course (Den Haag, International Geographical Union, Commission on Geographic Education Workshop on Geography Teaching over the Internet).

Show More
Related

  • Analysis of Ken Jenning´s Maphead: Charting the Wide Weird World of Geography

    2012 Words  | 5 Pages

    Now that we’ve made our way through the journey of Ken Jennings’ incredible book I feel as if it’s important for me to try to sway you to become more involved in geography. It’s a truly fascinating subject and can take you places you never thought you could ever visit. If you don’t want to leave your home, at least buy an atlas, map, or visit Google Earth. You never know what you could discover in your journey. If you don’t think maps or an atlas is your thing, you never know if you never try. Jennings created a journey, for me I would have never cared to take had it not been assigned as a college class assignment, but now I’m so glad I did. Jennings shined a different light on geocaching, and map hunting. He made it fun, interesting, and overall thrilling.

    Read More

  • (Introduction Paper) The Impact of Formative Assessment and Feedback on Student Learning Using the Student Response System

    2141 Words  | 5 Pages

    Working as an Instructional Technology Specialist for the past seven years has provided many opportunities to observe teachers and students in a classroom setting. During this time teachers have been in the process of phasing in a new standards-based curriculum with an emphasis on student mastery of these standards. New technology tools have also been incorporated in many classrooms including studen...

    Read More

  • 21st Century Classrooms - Annotated Bibliography

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    Van Dusen, L. R. (1995). Can integrated instructional technology transform the classroom?. Educational Leadership, 53(2), 28. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Virtual Reality

    4240 Words  | 9 Pages

    The term Virtual Reality (VR) is used by many different people with many meanings. There are some people to whom VR is a specific collection of technologies, that is a Head Mounted Display, Glove Input Device and Audio. Some other people stretch the term to include conventional books, movies or pure fantasy and imagination. However, for purposes of this research, we restrict VR to computer mediated systems. We would define Virtual Reality as a way for humans to visualize, manipulate and interact with computers and extremely complex data.

    Read More

  • Research Plan: Does Autocorrect Technology Help Us Learn?

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    With the widespread use of digital technology, the classroom teaching approaches and practices went through remarkable changes. When compared to the past ten years, today the classrooms look entirely different in terms of programs and technical tools used to enhance the learning skills of students.

    Read More

  • Ivan Illich - Deschooling Society

    2001 Words  | 5 Pages

    Whittington, D. & McLean, A. (2001). Vocational learning outside institutions: online pedagogy and deschooling. Studies in Continuing Education, 23(2), 153-167. doi: 10.1080/0158370120101939

    Read More

  • The Decline of Education Standards in the United States

    1664 Words  | 4 Pages

    "Research Center: Technology in Education." Education Week American Education News Site of Record. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. .

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Virtual School

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    The popularity and availability of online schooling, also referred to as virtual schools, cyber schools, e-learning, and distance learning, is growing rapidly throughout the U.S. I think the idea of virtual schools is wonderful, especially for those who are home bound or have medical conditions. Students at virtual schools can learn at any time and any place about any number of subjects, which is quite convenient. Students from rural areas can have the wide selection of courses usually only available to students in large suburban or urban schools.

    Read More

  • Essay on Benefits and Dangers of Virtual Reality

    1081 Words  | 3 Pages

    Virtual reality can be defined as a, "technology that enables users to enter computer generated worlds and interface with them three dimensionally through sight, sound, and touch" (Newquist 93). Virtual reality combines computer simulation and visualization into a single, coherent whole (Peterson 8). Researchers say it embodies an attempt to eliminate the traditional distinction between the user and the machine. Virtual reality is intended to provide a means of naturally and intelligently interacting with information (8). Virtual reality is contending to be the interface of the future, allowing ordinary users to use their senses to interact with complex data.

    Read More

  • Technology Is Changing Education

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    Technology is Changing Education The best method for improving educational standards is to utilize every tool available, including state-of-the-art technology. Computers and the Internet have expanded the way in which education can be delivered to the students of today. Today's networking technologies provide a valuable opportunity to the practice of learning techniques. Educators are discovering that computers and multi-based educational tools are facilitating learning and enhancing social interaction. Computer based telecommunications can offer enormous instructional opportunities, but educators will need to adapt current lesson plan to incorporate this new medium into all the classrooms.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On A Virtual Field Trip

    1735 Words  | 4 Pages

    VFTs can be used in any classroom, including early childhood classrooms (grades pre-k to 2nd). Technology does not need to be the most advanced for teachers to be able to implement VFT into their classroom. Lukes (2014) mentioned that VFT can be used using “a relatively low-techs solution that would work on any computer VFTs are free and do not require parent permission forms. VFTs also give teachers the ability to show students far away locations they may not get to experience otherwise. A teacher in Indiana could take her students on a VFT to Washington DC to tour the White House.

    Read More

  • Impacts of Technology on Digital Learning

    1485 Words  | 3 Pages

    Some of the advantages of digital learning are providing a flexible way of education from anytime, anywhere and any place where Internet connection and computers is accessible. It is also an affordable way of learning which reduces travelling cost for coming to classrooms. Students can take the exams and quizzes over the web; even they can submit assignments over the Internet. Instructors can provide all the materials online which in turn no cost for paper and printing. Ernst & Young University had 35% cost decrease because of virtual learning (Hall, 2000).

    Read More

  • Internet - Virtual Education is the Future of Learning

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    All of our lives, we have gone through school learning with many other students in a classroom, and using books. But what if things were to change? What if instead of getting up to go to school, we simply had to just turn our computers on. Virtual Education is becoming a new way to teach and learn. Using computers, students can interact with other students and instructors, go to a history lecture with people all across the world, and even dissect frogs.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Technology Education in Schools

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    The education world has been greatly influenced by rapidly changing technology and the increasing availability of information. Schools have advanced by leaps and bounds when it comes to incorporating technology into the learning environment, however, many more advances need to be made. In all areas of the country, educators are trying to help students keep up with technology, but there are more changes that are essential for preparing the next generation for the future.

    Read More

  • A Reflection on Curriculum Development, Instruction and Design

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom instruction that works (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA and Denver, CO: ASCD and Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning.

    Read More

More about The Virtual Field Trips

Open Document