Ok, where were the virtual field trip experiences when I was a child?! The amount of awesome information, but most importantly visual information is extraordinary. How blessed are our children/students of today to have the resources available to them without having to leave their classroom or home. I must admit I loved so many of the sites the Prof. posted on blackboard. However, my two most favorite were www.arounder.com and www.amnh.org .
These sites were so cool! I actually fwd many links to my friends and family, especially the ones with children. I was very interested and amazed and kind of hooked on these sites and will be going back quite frequently. In arounder.com you have everything from historical works of art, museums, stores and breathtaking views from any city you pick from. There are destinations you can virtually visit from all over the globe and even Mars and the Moon! They have virtual panaromic 360 degree full screen views that are by far the best I have seen online without a doubt.
I would intergrate these sites to my curriculum according to the subject matter I would be teaching. In Social Studies I would certainly utilize arounder.com. I would pick a country like China and ask students to have a virtual scavenger hunt around the great wall of China. I would incorporate a checklist for students to follow. I would also have them gather text information and images so they can make their own scrapbook. On amnh.org the students have so many forms of interaction, I highly recommend you visit this site. Go to www.ology.amnh.org , the activities are endless. On this link students can learn a lot about astronomy, paleontology and the definitions of other "ologies". They can take journeys through space and the Gobi Desert. I love Science, so right on exhibit they are focusing on the human brain functions. The visuals are awesome. I would have my students categorize the different and distinct brain functions. I would have them compare the human brain, to the brain of a dog or grasshopper. In terms of evolution how studying the brain can help us perhaps live longer. Perhaps also get the future neuroscientists on their way to discovering the mysteries of the brain! :D
I found this quote on one of the sites and I really feel it hits the spot.
"Technology is not just another tool for instruction; it can break down barriers of time and space that has limited the traditional classroom." -Walter McKenzie
Amber,
ReplyDeleteArounder.com is great! I think that students taking art classes (and all future architects) could definitely benefit from visiting this site...My favorite was Prague, which I belive is one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe. And the AMNH's website is just super - we go to this museum at least twice a year (personally, I am a great fan of planetariums) - I was surprised to see the great selection of games and quizzes ... I think that virtual field trips could be of great assistance to teachers in elementary schools as well because kids respond well to visual stimuli and the interactive features would definitely keep them engaged:-)
Hi Amber
ReplyDeleteWe have been members of the museum for 8 years. We absolutely love it. The only issue we have (as eloquently stated by my son Dominic) is that we never have enough time to explore it all. Everytime we go we always have to review what we have seen already becasue they love the dinosaurs etc, leaving littel time for other exhibits. Going forward we will be trying out the virtual tours. What a efficient way to explore before physically exploring!! Love it.
Great post Amber,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found a lot that you liked. I am LOVING the photograph on your post. So beautiful! I like your idea of using arounder.com to gather data and photographs and I think I'll be using that website with some of my 5th grade classes instead of just searching via Google or the like for photos. Thanks!
Evelina, arounder.com is so cool. I've been on it so many times. The children love it. the museum link is so awesome too, the activities are by far the best!
ReplyDeleteRosanna, your children will love the activities on this museum site.
Prof. Schmidt, this photograph is where I would like to be! On arounder.com you can even virtually visit the moon & mars!