Virtual Experiences:
Field Trips & Simulations

We'd love to take our children on a trip to the great art and science museums of the world, explore the ocean bottom, or visit the earth's core. Whether it's the cost of a bus trip or the danger of a trip into outer space, sometimes a virtual field trip or simulation is more realistic.

Let's explore virtual experiences for your classroom:

• Virtual Field Trips
• Simulations
• Tools for Virtual Experiences

Experiment!
Open Call-Out Starter. Create call-out bubbles. What would this person say about this place? Open More Call-Outs. Create an assignment for one of the photos.

Virtual Field Trips

Turn a simple website into a virtual field trip by designing engaging off computer activities including tickets, maps, and travel itineraries. Many virtual fieldtrips are produced by professionals; however also explore virtual field trips made by kids, for kids.

Go to Coal Creek Virtual Field Trip to see virtual field trips created by elementary children.

For more ideas for all ages, go to Teacher Tap: Digital and Virtual Field Trips, Museums, Libraries.

Use a web template to create a virtual experience.

• Template 1 - Template 1 Example
• Template 2 - Template 2 Example
• Template 3 - Template 3 Example
• Template 4 - Template 4 Example

Experiment!
Build a virtual field trip. First, explore photos for ideas. Second, use one of the templates to create the experience. Third, record narration. Fourth, design an activity where students would be involved in creating their own.

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Simulations

Simulations help students apply their skills to "real life" situations by providing an environment to manipulate variables, examine relationships, and make decisions. They are generally used after initial instruction as part of application, review, or remediation.

There are many types of simulations. Physical simulations involve students in using objects or machines such as microscopes or airplanes. Procedural simulations involve a series of actions or steps such as medical diagnosis or frog dissection. Situational simulations involve critical incidents within particular settings such as interactions with customers. Process simulations involve decisionimaking skills related to topics such as economics, genetics, or geology. Students must choose among alternative paths.

Experiment!
Explore simulations. Discuss how you would build a classroom environment to immerse students in the simulation. What books, activities, and objects could be used to build into the learning environment?

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Tools for Virtual Experiences

How can you bring the world into the classroom?

Live video cams, expert discussions, maps, and photographs can all help bring the outside world alive.

• Take a trip with videos or photos with sound.
• Take a trip with Google Earth.
• Find your school with Google Local.

Cams

• AirNow - Air Quality Web Cams throughout US
• Bald Eagle Cam
• Elephant Cam
• Elephant Cam at National Zoo
• Loon Cam
• Horse Cam
• Osprey Cam
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Kelp, Sea Otter, Bird, Outer Bay, Penguin, Shark
• National Park Web Cams
• Panda Cam
• Pennsylania Peregrine Cam
• Rail Cam
• Sun Cam
• Turtle Tracking - click on the name of a turtle
• WildCam Africa - cam and blog, view highlights
• Yellowstone
• Find more at CamWorld (not all appropriate for kids)

WebCams + Blogs

Increasingly, webcams are being combined with blogs. For example, WildCam Africa from National Geographic has a place where students can ask questions as they watch the cam as part of an ongoing blog. You can turn any webcam into this type of project by using a blog or even a journal activity.

The Internet provides access to live events and activities not available in local areas. For example, FalconCams are used by people around the world to monitor the activities of these beautiful birds. Many classrooms are participating in projects that get students actively involved in real-world science through observing these live cameras and monitoring the blogs. For example, a fifth grade group in California maintains a website for their falcon project. It included links to Native American folklore, student journal entries, activities, and even an email reply from the author of Frightful's Mountain, Jean Craighead George. Consider ways to provide students with experiences that would not be possible without technology. For example, students can use an incubator simulation see learn about the gestation of chickens.

Experiment!
Design an activity that incorporates a live webcam, Google Earth or Google Local.

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