Virtual Field Trip

In this assignment, Virtual Field Trip, I created a collage of web resources for students to explore. This digital-age learning experience, brought students to various websites about different places and events in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Students explored these site with a sheet to mark whether they have seen these places before and one neat fact about each place. This was used to assess the student’s level of engagement in the activity and the new knowledge they came away from it with.

I believe this activity illustrated the following NETS:

-Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources. They model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

-Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS. Teachers design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. They develop technology-enriched learning environments tha tenable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. Teachers customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources. They provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teacher.

-Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats. They model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

Using the collage of web links I made available relevant subject matter effectively to students. The websites were previously viewed for interest and relevant information. Students were engaged in virtual learning. They explored real world features of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Feature Fact Sheet was used to assess students. I made sure to use a variety of websites. Some websites were merely live camera feed; others were rich in images, while others were more rich in text. I made the virtual trip so that students would not have to view all the sites for all the features. There were nine features and students were responsible for five. However if a student had an educational goal of filling out the information for all of them, there was room under the table to continue on engaging in virtual learning. This activity is unique because students get to explore and engage in this learning experience at their own pace in their own learning style. Students love using computers and technology. This is an excellent way to familiarize students with information you want them to learn.

 From this experience, I have learned that there are many great websites for students to explore about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This activity did not take an enormously large amount of time to create once I chose a subject. I believe students would really enjoy these virtual field trip activities. I now am familiar with the advance search application on Google that allows me to view only information at different reading levels. This is a great addition to my digital tool belt.

I definitely plan on using this in the future. Perhaps if I need to teach my students some background information on a topic, this activity would fit in perfectly. I love that students would enjoy it and that there is an assessment sheet included that helps the students remember and chart their newly learned information. In the future I will make use of previously created virtual trips to introduce topics. However if I don’t find a previously created virtual trip, I will not pause in creating one myself.