Travel the universe without ever leaving the classroom!

Learn a practical format for developing dynamic short-term learning experiences which immerse your students in real-world experiences! This fast-paced five week course offers the structure, resources and guidance to develop your own original Virtual Field Trip (VFT) ~ ready to use in the classroom!

Anyone who has been teaching for more than ten years remembers the planning and preparation that was required to create a vicarious learning experience in the classroom prior to Internet technology. Beginning in the summer, you had to research, snail mail and interlibrary loan anything and everything you could get your hands on to help enrich the classroom! With the inception of the Internet in our schools, however, all this has changed; we now have the world at our fingertips! Yes, good planning is still the hallmark of effective teaching - even with web-based resources. But think of the places you can go once you get your class acclimated to working online!

Design Your Own VFT offers a user-friendly format which allows you to take your students on web-based tours of every corner of the earth! But why stop there? You can create a VFT inside the human body, across our solar system, back in time to a significant moment in history.....you are only limited by your imagination! Once you master the VFT format you can use it over and over again, creating a cache of vibrant learning opportunities that immerse your students in memorable content! Regardless of your grade level or subject area of expertise, you can put the power of the Internet to work in your classroom through this creative cyber-concept!

In this CoP you will work with me to examine existing VFTs online and develop your own curriculum-based VFT that is ready to use in the classroom. You and your students will never look at teaching and learning the same way again!