Virtual Field Trips & Continued Learning

Field trips can be an amazing way for students to connect their in school learning to real-life situations. They can be extension of the classroom learning, and are a fun and engaging way for students to understand, become more interested in, and enhance their learning on various subjects. But, what happens if you cannot afford a field trip? The fantastic field trip you planned did not work out? Perhaps the field trip you want to give is just  too far away?  VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS.

What is Virtual Field Trip (VFT)?  A virtual field trip is a way for teachers to allow their students the experience of a field trip, without actually leaving the classroom.  These field trips can be done through online skyping with various place. For example, the science course that I took last semester had a virtual field trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, through skyping one of the staff members. We participated in a variety of activities, as well as had a discussion with the educator about the Royal Botanical Gardens, and how we could incorporate a field trip there, or a virtual one, in our future classrooms.  These types of field trips do not have to be conducted through skype. Genia Connell (2016) wrote a great article about the way she took her students on a virtual field trip to Plimoth Plantation. She explained how she got her students to determine their knowledge about the area, used Google Maps, as well as a variety of other tools to incorporate multiple strands of curriculum into their field trip, keep students engaged, with never leaving their classroom. She gives a great step-by-step guide as to how she implemented this field trip, as well as how she connected the variety of activities to the curriculum.  Virtual Field Trips are an amazing way in which teachers can give students the variety, fun and engaging aspects of a field trip, but in a way that is cost-effective, and can include ALL students.


My learning in this week did not just stop at Virtual Field Trips. In my tech class we also started discussing and creating our own Genius Hour Projects.  Genius Hour is a initiative that allows student to follow and develop their passions in the classroom, by giving them choice in what they are learning for a set amount of time (Kesler, 2013).  Students are given a set amount of time per day or per week to work on something that they are passion about. This may be learning to play and instrument, creating their own arcade, learning to bake, whatever they are interested at the time. For example, in out class this week, we got to chose our own Genius Hour projects. For myself, I am choosing to do mine on using new crock pot recipes. I have had a crock pot for a while now, and consistently pin new crockpot ideas to Pinterest, but have yet to actually try a recipe.  This project will allow me to try to recipes, learn how to utilize my crockpot, as well as hopefully same some time, money, and have lots of a yummy leftovers! I think Genius Hour is an exciting way for kids to continue to learn, but about things they are specifically passionate about.  Feel free to follow my own Genius Hour adventure on my blog, and through my connected pages. My first adventure is attempting to cook brown sugar balsamic glazed pork tenderloin. Wish me luck!

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References
Connell, Genia. "Take Your Class on the First Thanksgiving Virtual Field Trip." Scholastic, 16 May 2016, https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/genia-connell/take-your-class-first-thanksgiving-virtual-field-trip/
Kesler, Chris. "What is Genius Hour." Genius Hour, 29 Mar. 2013, www.geniushour.com/what-is-genius-hour/