Virtual Field Trips (VFTs)

Active engagement through the use of interactive technology (Google)

After reading the article on VFTs (Virtual Field Trips:  Best Practices by Klemm and Tuthill), I imagined designing my own VFT to be a long, trying process.  I pictured these elaborate, interactive resources that required the knowledge of web-page design which I know very little about.  However, upon designing my own VFT using Google Earth, it turned out to be a rather simple, enjoyable activity.  I have had some experience making a tour on Google Earth so I am certain that had something to do with the enjoyment factor because it is never easy to plan a lesson using resources that you have never worked with before.  Google Earth has an array of interesting applications such as 3-D, Street, 3D Trees and Ocean View.  It also has great help resources online that I found to be extremely useful.  I would like to work more with this resource in order to use it to its full potential.  

A look at new features of Google Earth 6 (Youtube).

My VFT can be found at the class Wiki Page.  I could not upload the file.

I really liked the idea of modifying something I used in the classroom to include interactive technology through Google Earth, images, and video.  One great benefit to my VFT is allowing the students to be less dependent on me, the teacher, and providing an experience for independent learning.  Another way I would use a VFT is to visit locations that relate to the concepts we are studying, but are not plausible to actually visit.  For instance, students could follow the development of a hurricane from a storm in the African plains, developing into a tropical storm across the Atlantic, and following its progression to a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.  It seems the possibilities for places students can "visit" are endless with the use of tools such as Google Earth and the internet. 

Video used in VFT, courtesy of YouTube