Digital Blog Post D Chapters 6 & 10

Virtual Field Trips

Virtual Field trips can be a great way to show students places that would be too expensive to go to. I feel that different destinations such as the Palace of Versailles, Roman Colosseum, and Sistine Chapel are excellent examples of places that not only have a long history but are building marvels that many present day buildings take their architecture from. Understanding the history is important to students to know about and since taking even a few students to would be a budget killer are available in a virtual tour that many students can study. It does not matter whether it is rain or shine, hot or cold, students can experience these destinations anytime of the year.

Debates over Virtual Schools

Taking online classes’ is a great way for adults to take college classes and I believe is necessary for them to continue their education. However for public primary and secondary schools, I feel students should be in the classroom since these years are important for students to grow with the interaction of their peers. It may be cheaper for students to stay home and go online but interaction that students would have at a public school is a valuable experience that students need if they are going to succeed in the world. This experience is not only in the classroom but also in extracurricular activities. According to our book that critics are saying that students are also not performing well on standardized tests which is another key factor why students should be in a public classroom. Teachers are able to spend more time with students and have more opportunities with each student whereas online is limited to the online interaction.

Revealing Hidden Histories and Untold Stories

Using Virtual Field trips and even virtual schools are great ways to educate students, there are untold stories that students do not find out because they are not part of the formal curriculum. By students being able to search online they are able to find stories that interest them that might have an impact on where the student decides to go in the future. Technology makes it more easily to search for these stories for students to gain the knowledge about which could benefit the student the most. Students can also create bookmarks for online sites that they would like to view at a later time. Educators can find ways of integrating this information to students via projects for students to use later on.

Conclusion

In the end, I believe that Virtual Field Trips are beneficial for students to gain interesting facts about historic places that students would not otherwise be able to take. If students are to be in a virtual school that the students understand that they will be giving up valuable experiences that would help them in the future. Finally are the stories that I have found which would be the untold stories which have impacted me in where I am planning on going in life. By viewing internet travel pages, I have found places I have traveled to and seen the ranges in temperatures leading me to study the weather all over the country. 

Created by: Biagio Malarae

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.