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| Choose Your View |
10 Big Ideas |
Electronic Field Trips |
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| Choose Your View |
10 Big Ideas |
Electronic Field Trips |
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An electronic field trip is probably a good place to start learning about the WWW, because it is based on the actual field trip, which is an activity familiar to most K-12 students and teachers. Curricular, cognitive, and social goals similar to those of an actual field trip can be accomplished with an electronic field trip as well. And the best part is that nobody leaves their mittens behind!Research findings have shaped this list of tips and techniques for conducting electronic field trips, as has an understanding of the Internet environment. Teachers becoming more familiar and comfortable with the Internet can probably add to this list:
- Allow students to visit the field trip site (museum, city government, or library home page, for instance) before the actual trip. Research indicates that prior familiarity with a field trip site helps reduce "novelty effects" such as distractedness and excitement that can hinder learning. For this reason, students can also schedule follow-up visits to the field trip site for the purpose of answering further questions or conducting more in-depth research.
- Send permission slips home to be signed by parents prior to the day of the field trip. Even though the students never actually leave the room, a permission slip can help familiarize parents with the purpose and potential of such field trips. There might also be parents whose occupations are relevant to a specific field trip; perhaps they could help with a "guided tour."
- Plan specific tasks for students to accomplish that focus their "browsing" but simultaneously allow them to indulge their own creativity and individuality. For instance, on a trip to the National Zoo in Washington, DC, have each student research and report on the physical, geographic, and dietary differences between an animal of their choice and an animal their partner selects.
- If a problem occurs, technical, curricular, or otherwise, don't throw in the towel. Brainstorm with your students about possible ways to solve the problem. By viewing problems as challenges, teachers can help students adopt a mindset of inquisitiveness and empowerment that will help them navigate their own lives as well as the Web.
- Be flexible and prepared for anything, especially if this is a first time electronic field trip. The best-laid plans may come to be scrapped, sometimes with wonderful results.
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| Choose Your View |
10 Big Ideas |
Electronic Field Trips |