Journal #7

Journal # 7 - The Beginner’s Guide to Interactive Virtual Field Trips


Zanetis, J. (2010). The Beginner's guide to interactive virtual field trips. ISTE, 37. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25443&DirectListComboInd=D

Jan Zanetis, the author of this article, argues that virtual field trips (VFTs) offer a unique way of exploring the world. There are two types of VFTs that she discusses. The first is asynchronous VFTs which are not delivered in real time, essentially it’s a website set up for classrooms. The other, which I thought are more interesting interactive VFTs. These are conducted in real time, allowing for face-face interactions. She says that 30% of schools already have this technology available. VFTs allow students to go places they otherwise wouldn’t think about. I found a typo!!! She writes “Unfortunately, the most desirable trips—those to far-away…”, when it should be “too” not “to”.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using VFTs?

VFTs offer students an insight into places, things, and events that they may otherwise not be privy to. Even for local field trips, travel prices have risen, so you can save monetarily. Although, Zanetis does not mention it, you don’t have liability issues for VFTs. The disadvantage is that you don’t get the 100% human touch with VFTs, until VFTs are like the holodeck on the USS enterprise, they won’t be as good as the real thing.

Would you use VFTs in your classroom?

Of course. They sound like a great way of incorporating technology to make a more constructive learning environment. In a lot of ways VFTs have been around for a long time. A book, in a sense, is a VFT. Only the VFTs that the author is discussing are coming closer to the holodeck.