One recent trend that has been growing over the last 5 years particularly, is virtual field trips to museums. This is due to many different factors- including budget cuts to schools leading to limited resources for buses and field trips being one of the main reasons. This then also really impacts lower SES schools and greatly reduces the likelihood that they will be able to take a field trip. So museums have tried to find ways to reach out to schools and communities through local outreach programs and then going beyond to making their institutions accessible worldwide-- through online databases, publishing papers, and creating ways to interact with the exhibits virtually. Even my own institution, the Florida Museum of Natural History, has virtual exhibits, thousands of artifacts, pieces of information, videos, and more available online (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/discover/cultural-heritage/online-exhibits/). We are even working on a multi-million dollar grant project to digitize collections and have them available online (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/discover/life-on-earth/research-highlights/)!
I think one of my favorite online exhibits with FLMNH is the Historical Archaeology Collection's website (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/histarch/). They not only have information, interactive pages, timelines and the like available but they also have a Digital Type Collection that allows researchers from around the world to access archaeological information they have discovered (Example: Faience- Provence Blue on White ceramic).
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| http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/histarch/collections.htm |
So to my main point, I think virtual experiences with museums are excellent resources for teachers to use in their classrooms. However, I do not think that it can replace the actual experience of visiting a museum. There are a lot of ways to engage a classroom via a museum's website- text, images, video, links to other sources, etc.-- for many different subjects like art, history, science, etc. but actually seeing and experiencing a museum can really make a topic more meaningful to a student. Virtual exhibits are also a good way to introduce a place before a visit and reflect back to it afterwards and even to visit places you may never see (like the Louvre in Paris!).
I agree with everything in your post, but especially this part: "Virtual exhibits are also a good way to introduce a place before a visit and reflect back to it afterwards and even to visit places you may never see (like the Louvre in Paris!)."
ReplyDeleteI think this is a concept that is highly underused by educators. Combining online resources as introduction and traditional visits could benefit students in a way that taking each alone never could. I think this will be a technique I use as much as possible in my classroom.
If the only way I can see The Louvre is virtually, I'll take it! But nothing truly compares to actual reality!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of virtual field trips, not just for learning a new language, but to connect with another culture. Especially for the students who may never know whats beyond the town they live in. It makes new ideas and concepts more tangible. Gets the kiddos to really think what else is out there!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Suwanna, that the last statement you made really caught my attention. (Great post overall though!) We think of this as students either take a real field trip OR a virtual field trip. I think the experience would be even richer if we combined the two. How about each student picks a piece of artwork in the virtual museum they like, and records why. Then, the student can reflect on the same piece in person. I think using it as an introduction is really neat.
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