March+1st+Article



Platoni, Kara. "Internet Explorers: Virtual Field Trips Are More Than Just Money Savers." //Edutopia//. 29 Oct. 2008. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.

Technology, specifically computers, was utilized in the investigation of this article to discuss how technology provides experiences that are similarly rich as real-life field trips. This is a revolutionary opportunity for schools with limited resources and funds. Some virtual field trips are as simple as showing real wetlands via real-time streaming, videos, pictures, and information like blogs, articles, etc. This article highlighted field trip experiences that no school, no matter how much money or resources they had at their disposal, could make happen and pull off. This is the beauty of this technology, there are topics that classes are ready to study (like the North Pole), but not ready to actually explore and have first-hand experiences with. The four “field trips” that were specifically highlighted in this article were Blue Zones Quest, GoNorth!, Windows into Wonderland, and National Geographic: Lewis and Clark. Each provides a unique experience.

Each of the aforementioned products/field trips provides different activities to present the information. Blue Zones Quest focuses around investigating why people who live in some parts of the world live much longer than people who live in other parts of the world. The students are able to approach this problem from many angles, such as what the people from a pre-selected location eat or drink, what spiritual practices, or how far they walk and other aspects of culture. GoNorth! follows along with the real-life around-the-pole journey by dogsled and is designed to help kids learn about Arctic ecology, its inhabitants, and its role in the health of the planet. There is a weekly Q&A session that facilitates live text chat with the team and scientific guest experts like meteorologists from the Weather Channel. The students can upload their own movies, artwork, short stories, and other handiwork to the collaboration zones. Windows into Wonderland is put out by the National Park Service and is a series of electronic field trips exploring Yellowstone National Park. It also has an interface that is based off of solving a mystery and investigating the natural phenomena, like geysers, hot springs, and indigenous animals. National Geographic: Lewis and Clark is the accompaniment to the IMAX film, //Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West// and provides a map that lets students trace Lewis and Clark’s search for a water route from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast.

Because of how technologically dependent this experience is, being able to navigate the field trips will show the students’ technology skills. Also, since many portions of the field trips are in stages, they won’t be able to move on until they are able to answer questions based upon the topic. In Windows into Wonderland, there are quizzes that sporadically pop up to assess what the students have absorbed thus far.

In Blue Zones Quest, teachers can download accompanying national standards-aligned curricula in language arts, math, science, health, and geography. Additionally, it offers a four-week fitness challenge that encourages students to eat healthier and log less screen time. GoNorth! provides more than 300 pages of standards-based curriculum from grades K-12. In Windows into Wonderland, there are sections specifically designed for students working singly or in small groups. Because of how interactive these experiences are, there is constant feedback.