A Virtual Field Trip in a Primary Classroom
One example of a technology-anchored assistance lesson is a virtual field trip, which can guide students in understanding material by presenting it one step at a time to make reading and learning maneageable. Tammy Marsh Milby guided her 9- and 10-year-old third graders on a virtual field trip to investigate “The Wonder of Bald Eagles.” With her one classroom computer connected to a projector and the Internet, she and her students “traveled” to various sites where they saw bald eagles in action. After this “trip” — which included discussion and note-taking at each “location” — students developed a list of questions they wanted to answer, composed letters (using word-processing software) containing their questions, and sent their letters via e-mail to the local zoo. When they received responses, they created a database of information for other students to use. Creating the database also assisted student learning because reading was reinforced with writing. In all, the information about bald eagles was encountered four times: with Ms. Milby on the field trip, when letters were written, when information was received and read, and when information was entered into the database.