What's the best virtual field trip?
by Edutopia Staff
May 23, 2008
Credit: iStockphoto
Ah, the joys of being there without really having to go there. No crazy bus rides; no cranky parent chaperones; no head counts, mosquitoes, poison ivy, or museum malaise. Reality has its long-established place, of course, but virtual travel offers the ecstasy of learning without the agony of the learning experience.
No big surprises in responses here, except perhaps that National Geographic Xpeditions [2] didn't make the top three (the Smithsonian Institution [3], the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [4], and Virtual Field Trips [5]), or that the top two answers are both federal government entities, or that imagination still gets a vote (yes, as one reader noted, "The one in your head!"), or that even in an age when we can fly almost anywhere with Google Earth [6] and not worry about losing our luggage, many educators ("I like to do the real thing") still prefer actual to virtual.
What do you think? Weigh in on the results.
Links:
[1] http://www.edutopia.org/edutopia-staff
[2] http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/hall
[3] http://www.si.edu
[4] http://www.nasa.gov
[5] http://www.virtual-field-trips.com
[6] http://earth.google.com
[7] http://www.edutopia.org/node/5508/results
[8] http://www.edutopia.org/readers-survey-2008
[9] http://www.edutopia.org/best-blog-educators-2008
[10] http://www.edutopia.org/best-educational-podcast-2008
[11] http://www.edutopia.org/best-site-download-free-lessons-2008
[12] http://www.edutopia.org/best-site-grant-information-2008
[13] http://www.edutopia.org/best-technology-product-less-100-2008
[14] http://www.edutopia.org/best-technology-tool-students-2008
[15] http://www.edutopia.org/best-education-software-2008
[16] http://www.edutopia.org/amount-spend-classroom-supplies-2008
[17] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-get-need-classroom-2008
[18] http://www.edutopia.org/best-public-advocate-education-role-model-2008
[19] http://www.edutopia.org/best-new-book-education-2008
[20] http://www.edutopia.org/top-concern-parents-2008
[21] http://www.edutopia.org/top-concern-teachers-2008
[22] http://www.edutopia.org/what-missing-degree-certification-program-2008
[23] http://www.edutopia.org/who-teach-class-day-2008
[24] http://www.edutopia.org/subject-should-be-taught-2008
[25] http://www.edutopia.org/new-teachers-burning-out-2008
[26] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-find-inspiration-2008
[27] http://www.edutopia.org/best-way-create-educational-community-2008