I am writing about an article entitled Get Outta Class with Virtual Field Trips, by Sherril Steele-Carlin.
The article talks about a new technology that enables children to go on field trips without having to leave their classrooms. This enables teachers to make learning fun without the hassle of going on a true field trip. This technology also enables you to go places you would not normally be able to go. The article gives examples of Antarctica and the solar system. These places would be extremely expensive and dangerous of not impossible for a real field trip, but because of our technology students can expirience these places and in turn learn about them.
Teachers also can enjoy making these virtual field trips for their own students. In some cases teachers can go out to these places and take pictures to create their own virtual trips. This makes their job more interesting and fun.
I personally think this is a great idea. Although in some cases it could encourage laziness and dependence on technology. Our world has already become somewhat dependent on technology and to me this seems to provoke it. Students will think that they can sit at home and see these places online so why would they go to them in real life? On the other hand, they can go to places that would otherwise be impossible to go to without the internet and this opens up many more learning possiblities for them. Hopefully these children will see these places online and it will encourage them to see it in real life.
I think a great way they could expand on this idea would be to create a virtual reality simulation where the students would actually be able to “walk” through a museum or “swim” with the dolphins or “fly” through space. This to me would encourage some sort of physical activity and make it seem like a video game which would make it even more appealing to the child.
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1 comment:
In my introduction writing assignment I had mentioned that the use of video games would keep the attention and focus of the children. They are growing up in an environment that is predominately technology. Most kids today are unable to peel themselves away from it, things like videogames, cell phones, ipods, etc. I love that you suggested making the field trips virtual reality. I think that it would make students want to go to class and look forward to learning. Things like this will make their perception of school change for the better.
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