Virtual ToursKathy BottaroPolly MeissnerOctober 28, 2011

Outcomes

By the end of today’s session teachers will be able to define a Virtual Tour and list ways to incorporate it into their teaching.

Teachers will evaluate and employ the best Virtual Tour to be used within their classroom in the next 9 weeks.

WHY VFT?www.wallwisher.com/wall/virtualtours

Definitions -- According to Illinois State's Ed Tech Immersion Plus:

Conceptual Definition: "A digitally vicarious experience that allows the participant to travel through space and time free of the constraints of real-world travel, including places, people and events that occur naturally throughout human and natural history."

Working Definition: "A topical collection of Web sites that help students to build upon their existing understanding of a subject or concept by vicarious experience.“

Types of Virtual Tours…

- Photographs/Drawings- Multi-media- Panoramic- Video/Quick Time- Webcams- Animation- Skype

VFT Tips for the Classroom: Walter Mackenzie’s Innovative Teaching:

Select a trip which has a clear connection to what you are studying in class

Collect signed parental permission slips to take your class online (know your school division's AUP!)

Be responsible as the chaperone while your class is online

Plan ahead for your trip:-teach a preparatory lesson before the online trip-preview the site and know the content therein-check all links up to three clicks away from the tour-provide step-by-step tasks to accomplish

-consider a treasure hunt checklist for students to follow-perhaps have students gather text and images to make a scrapbook-design a webquest which requires students to complete an assignment-state a measurable objective for your culminating activity

Be sure your VFT is in your lesson plans

Place a time limit on the trip

Be the tourguide - help students pace themselves

Consider using a projector and touring as a class

Consider pairs or small groups if students work on their own

View all monitor screens in use from one vantage point

Use the History folder to see where a browser has been

Extend the experience to word processing, desk top publishing, and multimedia presentations

Follow through on a plan of assessment for completed student work

Have at least one follow-up lesson after the trip  

Virtual Field Trip at its Best…

The Google Art Project

Photographs/Drawings New York Underground

Multi-media Inside the White House

PanoramicSmithsonian Museum of Natural History

Panoramic (cont.)National Museum of the United States Air Force

Panoramic (still more):Google Sky

Video/Quick Time Thanksgiving field trip to Plimoth

Plantation

Webcam Yellowstone Geyser Live!

Animation:A Visit to the Library

Skype:Powerful video/audio conferencing tool that will figuratively break down the walls of your classroom.

Getting started with Skype

You will need a:• computer • webcam• microphone

Links to locate willing collaborators around the US and the world:Skype in the ClassroomChatting Across the USAGlobal School NetEpals Global Community

VFT Links to Explore:VFTs from TechtrekersOver 100 VFT ideas from simple to complex

Simple K12Field trips for all disciplines and all ages

Kathy Schrock’s VFT Tip SheetFeatures tips for trips and destination ideas as well!

Not to be Missed:Cow Eye DissectionVery informative cow eye dissection.

Tour a World War I trenchYou will need QuickTime for this one!

Google Lit Trips“A Whole New Way to Appreciate Great Literature” You will need to download Google Earth to access the lit trips.

Let’s begin…Many virtual tours require additional apps:• QuickTime

• Adobe Flash

• RealPlayer

• Skype

• Google Earth

Loading these apps on your district laptop may require an administrative password.

Enjoy!