Seeing the world may not be as hard as it used to be before the age of mass transit, and certainly before the Wright brothers risked life and limb to achieve what Daedalus and Icarus could not. However, the biggest hurdle now is money. It is prohibitively expensive to go around the world on your own, let alone to take 22 young learners (and their chaperones) with you. Here comes the internet to the rescue! Virtual field trips are the most economical, efficient, and – if you know what you’re doing – safest way to remedy this quandary! Here are some of the best resources I have used in the classroom. It is a short list (and I am saving everything Google Earth for another post) but they are all good.
While it may not be the prettiest and most "Web 2.0"-looking site out there, TechTrekers is a veritable treasure trove of virtual field trips. They have links to virtual field trips that range from an active volcano to zoo webcams.
When I first came across Tramline a couple of years ago, I honestly thought it was a tram/trolley transit company -- even when I went to their site and seeing that logo. It turns out that they are a software company that developed "TourMaker" back in the mid-'90s. Don't be fazed, though, it IS a wonderful resource for virtual field trips that were "created and added by educators... developed as a free resource to K-12 educators everywhere."
The Utah Education Network has a page dedicated to virtual field trips across different subjects:
Similarly, The Teacher's Guide has a page on virtual tours of museums and exhibits. While not as long and comprehensive as the other sites, it is an interesting and diverse (if not eclectic) collection.
So, what are you waiting for? See the world! Enjoy and have a safe trip!
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