The Use of “Virtual Field Trips” in the Electronic Classroom by D. E. Longer & Randy...

The Use of “Virtual Field Trips” in the Electronic Classroom

by

D. E. Longer&

Randy Gottfried

The Traditional Field Trip Advantages

1. On site learning2. “Hands on”

experience3. Students get to miss

1 or 2 days of class

Disadvantages

1. Takes much time2. Can be very

expensive3. Students miss 1 or 2

days of class

The Problem

How to enjoy the benefits of a field trip without actually taking one.

The Solution

A “Virtual Field Trip”

What is a “Virtual Field Trip”? Not actually based on virtual reality

A digital video sequence saved into an electronic memory such as a zip disk or cd rom

Can be imbedded into an existing electronic presentation such as a Power point slide show

Highly portable and easy to edit

What is Needed to Produce a “Virtual Field Trip”? A digital video camera A plan or script to follow during the

recording session An electronic media package such as

Windows Media Player Allows editing Organizes the slide presentation

A lot of help from the Teaching Resource Center !

When is This Technique Most Useful ? When other support materials, i.e.

text, lecture notes are lacking, When a change of pace is needed

during a lecture, When additional expertise would be

helpful, Added to course web site for review

and study.

“Focus Questions”are prepared to help guide students through the virtual field trip, with focus on key points.

“Focus Questions” Are Useful

How is a “Virtual Field Trip” Actually Used in a Class?

Future Plans Create a library of “Virtual Field Trips”

Assess the need in my classes, Assess the needs of colleagues Establish a library on “Plant Science” web site

for shared access• Encourage other scientists the around country and

world to contribute their own productions to our file• We would catalog and provide downloading

capabilites