EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

Virtual Field TripsVirtual Field Trips

focusing on focusing on Journeys to Wilderness CanyonsJourneys to Wilderness Canyons

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

Field Trips Field Trips

motivate motivate

and and

educateeducate

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

They are also time-consuming, They are also time-consuming, difficult to organize, and often difficult to organize, and often affected by the weather.affected by the weather.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

In many cases, the places In many cases, the places we would most like to visit we would most like to visit aren't nearby or aren't open aren't nearby or aren't open at the time we are covering at the time we are covering them in the curriculum.them in the curriculum.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

In these cases, the next best In these cases, the next best thing to a real field trip thing to a real field trip is a Virtual Field Trip. is a Virtual Field Trip.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

In fact, virtual field trips In fact, virtual field trips are often better because are often better because they take you places you they take you places you couldn't otherwise go, couldn't otherwise go, for example:for example:

•inside a volcano inside a volcano •under the oceanunder the ocean•or into outer spaceor into outer space

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

What is a Virtual Field Trip?What is a Virtual Field Trip?

It's a guided and narrated tour It's a guided and narrated tour that combines websites and that combines websites and educational materials witheducational materials withvideo streaming to enable students video streaming to enable students to explore locations beyond the to explore locations beyond the reach of traditional field trips.reach of traditional field trips.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

Virtual and Real Field TripsVirtual and Real Field Trips

Virtual and real trips are Virtual and real trips are different from one another, different from one another, but but they also have many they also have many features features in common. in common.

Let's take Let's take a look at these a look at these differences and similarities.differences and similarities.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

Similarities Similarities

•Both real and virtual field trips are group Both real and virtual field trips are group activities where kids interact with activities where kids interact with

each each other. other.

•Both real and virtual field trips involve Both real and virtual field trips involve active, not passive learning. active, not passive learning.

•Both real and virtual field trips take the Both real and virtual field trips take the student mentally out of the classroom student mentally out of the classroom and into a new and different learning and into a new and different learning environment. environment.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

Differences Differences

•Virtual field trips can be repeated over Virtual field trips can be repeated over and over again.and over again.

•Virtual field trips give students more Virtual field trips give students more room room to move at their own pace and to move at their own pace and explore explore things to their own depth.things to their own depth.

•Virtual field trips can take you to places Virtual field trips can take you to places you would not otherwise go. you would not otherwise go.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

DifferencesDifferences

•Virtual field trips are safe and free of Virtual field trips are safe and free of hazards.hazards.

•Virtual field trips can tap into more expert Virtual field trips can tap into more expert resources on a single topic. resources on a single topic.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

A Virtual Field Trip offers so much A Virtual Field Trip offers so much ANDAND makes it possible to take field makes it possible to take field trips without bumpy buses, long trips without bumpy buses, long rides, and cold lunches. rides, and cold lunches.

Our Virtual Field Trips focuses Our Virtual Field Trips focuses on a program entitled on a program entitled ““Journeys to Wilderness Canyons.”Journeys to Wilderness Canyons.”

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

““Journeys to Wilderness Canyons”Journeys to Wilderness Canyons” is a is a four-part learning experience designed to four-part learning experience designed to meet national science standards. meet national science standards.

Through inquiring and problem solving Through inquiring and problem solving activities, students follow a journey through activities, students follow a journey through time to discover how canyons have become time to discover how canyons have become such a powerful illustration of natural forces such a powerful illustration of natural forces and human impact. and human impact.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

The series addresses the following The series addresses the following questions:questions:

(1)(1) What is a wilderness canyon? What is a wilderness canyon?

(2) How have forces of nature shaped (2) How have forces of nature shaped wilderness canyons? wilderness canyons?

(3) What plants and animals live at Black (3) What plants and animals live at Black Canyon? Canyon?

(4) What are the human influences on (4) What are the human influences on wilderness canyons?wilderness canyons?

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

"Journeys to Wilderness Canyons""Journeys to Wilderness Canyons" featured featured Park Rangers from the Black Canyon of the Park Rangers from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and 10 Gunnison Gunnison National Park and 10 Gunnison Middle School students exploring the Middle School students exploring the ecosystem, geology and history of the area. ecosystem, geology and history of the area.

The program also featured comparisons from The program also featured comparisons from around the world like Petra canyon in Jordan, around the world like Petra canyon in Jordan, the Three Gorges in China and even a canyon the Three Gorges in China and even a canyon on Mars.on Mars.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

Black Canyon Of The GunnisonBlack Canyon Of The GunnisonNational Park is located near National Park is located near Montrose, CO.Montrose, CO.

It is a unique and spectacular It is a unique and spectacular landscape formed slowly by the action landscape formed slowly by the action of water and rock scouring down of water and rock scouring down through hard Proterozoic crystalline through hard Proterozoic crystalline rock. rock.

No other canyon in North America No other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths offered by walls, and startling depths offered by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

The "Journeys to Wilderness Canyons" The "Journeys to Wilderness Canyons" program aired and webcast 4 half-hour program aired and webcast 4 half-hour videos for middle school students from videos for middle school students from around the globe. around the globe.

The program had subscribers from every The program had subscribers from every state in the United States and several other state in the United States and several other countries. A total of 6.1 million watched and countries. A total of 6.1 million watched and participated in the program every participated in the program every Wednesday in March, 2001. Wednesday in March, 2001.

More than 24 million have participated so More than 24 million have participated so far, and the webcast portions will be far, and the webcast portions will be available for the next three yearsavailable for the next three years

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

Journeys to Wilderness Canyons is Journeys to Wilderness Canyons is available for download at: available for download at:

http://www.oneplaneteducation.com/canyons/curriculum.html

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

One of the aspects of a Virtual Field Trip is One of the aspects of a Virtual Field Trip is partnership. Many organizations can pool their partnership. Many organizations can pool their resources to provide the learning experience. resources to provide the learning experience. ““Journeys to Wilderness canyons was created Journeys to Wilderness canyons was created through the partnership of the following through the partnership of the following organizations:organizations:

•The National Park ServiceThe National Park Service•Satellite Education Resource Consortium (SERC)Satellite Education Resource Consortium (SERC)•One Planet Education Network (OPEN)One Planet Education Network (OPEN)•KLVX-PBS Las VegasKLVX-PBS Las Vegas•The Weather ChannelThe Weather Channel•Southwest Parks and Monuments AssociationSouthwest Parks and Monuments Association•The Dept of Education's Star Schools ProgramThe Dept of Education's Star Schools Program•University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania•Harvard UniversityHarvard University•The National Park FoundationThe National Park Foundation

EDET 709 Group 3 Fall 2002 Virtual Fieldtrips

Virtual field trips can offer a simplified Virtual field trips can offer a simplified route to exciting supplemental route to exciting supplemental instruction content – whether it is on instruction content – whether it is on the other side of town or on the other the other side of town or on the other side of the world.side of the world.

Lets take a look.Lets take a look.