Experiential+Learning+through+Virtual+Field+Trips

﻿ **__Experiential Learning __**

Experiential learning is a learner-centered and activity-oriented style of learning. The main focus is on personalized reflection about an experience and finding ways to apply the learning to other contexts. The emphasis in experiential learning is on the learning process and not on the finished product. Experiential learning consists of five essential phases: There are several methods of experiential learning, which include: field trips, narratives, conducting experiments, simulations, games, storytelling, field observations, role playing, model building, and surveys.
 * experiencing (an activity occurs);
 * sharing or publishing (reactions and observations are shared);
 * analyzing or processing (patterns and dynamics are determined);
 * inferring or generalizing (principles are derived); and,
 * applying (plans are made to use learning in new situations)

=**__Virtual Field Trips__**= =**Virtual Field trips are a great way to take students to places they may never have visited otherwise. A Virtual Field Trip can engage students on a higher level because they are doing something that is not part of the ordinary school day. Students can also use questioning and reasoning strategies to apply what they have learned to other curriculum areas. **=
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**Here are some links to Virtual Field Trip Sites. There are links to hundreds of Field Trips as well as information on how to create your own: **

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 * Anything can be turned into a Virtual Field trip. Here is an example of how a teacher made __The Three Little Pigs__ and two similar stories into a field trip: []**

__**PROCEDURE**__

 * 1. The students first take a "trip" to a farm and learn about pigs and farmers.**
 * 2. They learn about and compare/contrast wolves and coyotes.**
 * 3. The next section that talks about the setting of the stories.**
 * 4. They study different ways to build houses.**
 * 5. Finally, there is a section on the Genre of Fairy Tales.**
 * So the students actually took 3 trips, one to a pig farm, one to see wild dogs, and one on architecture-without ever leaving the classroom!**

__<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: auto 0in;">** Tips for Implementation of Virtual Field Trips ** __ 1. Just as you would with a live fieldtrip, select a virtual fieldtrip that meshes well with your classroom’s current curriculum. 2. Realize that a virtual fieldtrip still requires structure and supervision since you will “virtually” be taking your students to another location. 3. Begin or follow up the virtual fieldtrip with at least one lesson in order to help children make connections between the virtual destination and classroom curriculum. 4. Send home permission slips for parents to sign before having students go on a virtual fieldtrip. 5. Most importantly, plan ahead for a virtual fieldtrip just as you would plan ahead for a live fieldtrip!