Virtual Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips are videoconferences that motivate students to become active learners, score higher on writing assignments, use more figurative language, apply more varied and creative approaches to problem solving, and engage in classroom discussions. Virtual Field Trip opportunities are provided by Texas Connects, Connect2Texas and CILC. Most are for students but some videoconferences offered are professional development for school district staff.
Education Service Centers offer videoconference opportunities throughout the year for students of all grade levels. Most of these are free and available via TETN, the Texas Education Telecommunications Network. All twenty Education Service Centers are members of TETN and provide connectivity across the state for videoconferencing between and among school districts.
Connect2Texas promotes programs offered by institutions in the State of Texas. It is also intended to be used by schools and other entities to register for programs from these providers. Most videoconferences are fee based and occasionally are offered free.
CILC, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration provides a list of collaboration opportunities for your students each week and their website allows you to search for collaborative projects. The links for these are below.
FREE Virtual Field Trips
None currently availble
Remember you must register with Vickie Sullivan so your videoconference site connection can be scheduled.
Email: vickie.sullivan@region10.org; Telephone: 972.348.1164
FREE Professional Development
None currently availble
Fee-based Virtual Field Trips - Currently Available:
Connect2Texas promotes programs offered by interactive videoconferencing providers in the State of Texas. It is also intended to be used by schools and other entities to register for programs from one of our providers. Please let us know if we can help "steer" you in the right direction! For information about Connect2Texas or its providers, go to this link.
Registration Deadline: |
Various |
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Provider: |
Connect2Texas |
Date: |
Various |
Time: |
Various |
Grades: |
Various |
Subject: |
Various |
Registration Information: |
Remember you must register with Vickie Sullivan so your videoconference site connection can be scheduled. Email: vickie.sullivan@region10.org; Telephone: 972.348.1164
Collaborative Project - Currently Available:
Check the Resource Share website to find a Region 10 classroom to share costs on a virtual field trip, or post an idea for a collaborative classroom project, or offer a credit course through teacher sharing.
Resource Sharing via Videoconferencing
Classroom Colaborations - Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
CLIC usually has over 100 collaboration projects listed. Just click the link above to see what is available for students in kindergarten through the twelfth grade.
Remember you must register with Vickie Sullivan so your videoconference site connection can be scheduled. Email: vickie.sullivan@region10.org; Telephone: 972.348.1164
Virtual Field Trip and Videoconference listserv
Join the Virtual Field Trip and Videoconference listserv to learn about free events and share information about virtual field trips and videoconference collaboration opportunities with other members. Recommendations, invitations to participate, and instructional strategies from subscribers may be posted on the Virtual Field trip listserv. Subscribers are expected to:
- write messages thoughtfully and professionally,
- sign all postings with name and email address,
- address the topic intended for discussion on the listserv,
- abide by copyright and confidentiality requirements, and
- not use this list to consummate commercial transactions.
Contact: Bob Barnes, 972 348-1610, bob.barnes@region10.org
How to Plan a Virtual Field Trip
- Review the content providers offering and see how each aligns with the TEKS objectives and enriches the lesson being taught
- Teach a preparatory lesson before the virtual field trip
- State a measurable objective for a culminating activity
- Consider pairs or groups of students working on their own
- Extend the experience to word processing, desk top publishing, or multimedia presentations
- Teach at least one lesson after the trip with a culminating activity
- Follow through on a plan of assessment for completed student work