Before we start, here is a quick video on what Discovery Education is and what they are about!
Field trips have been a staple of the educational experience for grade school students, providing a hands-on learning experience that is difficult to replicate in the classroom. However, traditional field trips can be expensive, time-consuming, and logistically challenging to plan and execute. Fortunately, with technology of late, virtual field trips have become an increasingly popular and effective alternative. One of the best to do it is Discovery Education. Discovery Education’s Virtual Field Trips consist of virtual events that allow educators to take students to amazing places and offer the students remarkable experiences. Amazingly enough, it does so all without leaving the comfort of the classroom, or even the comfort of one’s own home.
Discovery’s virtual field trips are interactive, multimedia-based experiences that prompt the student to explore a variety of destinations and learn about a wide range of topics. Students can visit historical landmarks, explore remote ecosystems, and even participate in STEM activities such engineering simple mechanics! Its uses are far and plenty, but if you are still not convinced, here are some critical points that highlight the effectiveness of the tool.
- Exposure to vast range of locations and experiences
- The field trips take students to places that would otherwise be too difficult, expensive, or unsafe to visit in person. For example, students can explore the depths of the ocean, visit exotic animal habitats, or travel back in time to experience historical events. This broadens the range of experiences and knowledge that students can acquire, making learning more engaging and exciting.
- Promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- They also provide an opportunity for students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world scenarios. By presenting a challenge or a problem to solve, students are encouraged to think creatively and develop practical solutions. This not only helps them learn subject-specific content but also develops important life skills that will serve them well in the future.
- Providing a multisensory learning experience
- Incorporating a range of media, including audio, video, and interactive elements, the multisensory approach to learning helps students retain information better than traditional classroom lectures. Furthermore, virtual field trips allow for students to learn at their own pace and can be tailored to suit different learning styles, making them more effective for a diverse range of learners.
- Enhancing student engagement and motivation
- Virtual field trips can spark students’ interest and excitement in a subject, increasing their motivation to learn. Unlike traditional lectures, virtual field trips are interactive and can be designed to engage students in ways that suit their interests and learning styles. This approach to learning can make students more invested in the learning process and can lead to better academic outcomes.
- Cost/Time Efficiency
- Lastly, and likely most importantly, they are much more cost and time-effective than traditional field trips, especially for schools with limited resources or those in remote locations. They eliminate the need for expensive transportation, admission fees, and other logistical costs associated with traditional field trips. All you need is a device and the internet!
As an aspiring teacher myself, I like to look for ways that would keep the students engaged with the content, and Discovery Education’s field trips do just that! Of course, experiencing things first hand in the real world will always be better than anything technology can conjure. However, sometimes those real world experiences are out of reach. This is not the Magic School Bus, where we can throw all the kids into a bus and magically dive into the depths of the ocean! This is real life! Discovery Education provides us with a tool that essentially feels like an episode of The Magic School Bus. Those kids in the show seem to have a lot of fun!
Thanks for reading!
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