For our group project this semester, our team chose to look at virtual field trips, and how they can contribute to a Universal Design for Learning in a meaningful and authentic way. We directed our research with the following inquiry question in mind:

How can virtual field trips enhance accessibility and engagement for elementary students with diverse learning needs?

We chose this topic because UDL and accessibility in the classroom are topics which matter to each of us a great deal. We discussed field trips we had gone on as elementary students ourselves, and the financial, physical, or logistical barriers they posed. For example, my history class in high school hosted an annual ‘Visit History’ international trip, going to different historical sites in Europe. For those who financially could not afford this or had mobility issues this amazing opportunity was not possible. The amazing thing with Virtual Field Trips (hereinafter VFTs) is that you can travel across both space and time. The world is at your fingertips!

For our digital artifact, each group member did a screencast looking at a different aspect of VFTs. Here we can find our first group member walking you through the process of creating your very own interactive virtual field trip:

Our next group member chose to discuss how to use a specific resource called ThingLink to take your students on immersive 360º-view virtual tours:

I chose to do a screencast on a specific VFT experience, providing an idea for the wide range of opportunities this type of technology can provide. I found a free resource from BBC’s Learning Hub that provides an interactive field trip into the world of dinosaurs! Here is the link to the video.

How does this relate to teaching and learning?

I find VFTs are a great way to get students to engage and interact with content in a fun and immersive way. They also allow for asynchronous learning, meaning that each student can use the resource in a way that best suits them. This gives students autonomy over what they want to learn, and how. It also makes learning more inclusive, as it overcomes financial, physical, and geographical barriers. Not only do VFTs tackle these barriers, but they easily incorporate accessibility features, such as subtitles for auditory impairments or ELL, visual modifications, and audio features.

What are the pros, cons, and risks?

As noted above, the number one pro we identified with VFTs of all types is its inclusivity. If your district has reliable internet access, there are many free resources online that you can utilize to enhance learning in your classroom for all students.

A con we identified is that some VFTs like virtual reality equipment can have high upfront costs. Virtual Reality headsets can offer a more immersive experience for students, but are quite expensive. According to PC Mag, VR headsets can range in price from $200 to well over $1500. Buying multiples of these for a school would certainly add up.

There are some potential risks associated with this type of technology, as there are with many other forms. For example, repeated use or use for long periods of time can potentially become quite disorientating- leading to symptoms of motion sickness. Additionally, VR headsets are still quite new, meaning we still do not know how it affects our brains and its development.

Strategies and Best Practices

Before embarking on your virtual field trip journey with your class, ensure you understand the technology well enough to teach your students how to use it. Make sure to select or design a VFT with intentionality; this should aim to foster curiosity or contribute meaningfully to student learning.

During the VFT, we recommend combining guided exploration with student choice. Ensure they are on the right track with what they are expected to know, but also allow students to follow their own wonders and interests.

After the virtual field trip, ask students to reflect on the experience. This can be in the form of writing a short reflective paragraph, making a poster about what they have learned, or sharing their thoughts with their peers in a class discussion.

As a future teacher, I am excited for the opportunity to use resources like VFTs. I think they are a powerful way to make learning accessible, meaningful, and fun for every student.