Virtual Tours

A virtual tour is a way for students to learn about a place that they cannot physically travel to. This happens everyday in the classroom.  Students learn about places all over the world, but may never truly understand these concepts or places unless they are given an opportunity to "travel" to them.  A virtual tour does just that; it allows students to view these different places as if they were actually there.  Also, there are science experiments that can be done online just by clicking on different icons and words (ex: the virtual cell).  I see many possibilities for virtual tours in my future classroom.  I found one on my own while researching for my webquest that allows students to tour Williamsburg Virginia.  By clicking on different people or buildings information will pop up and students are connected to different links that further explain information.  Because these tours are online, I think they provide a good alternative learning exercise that is more exciting than reading a book or listening to a lecture.  Students love to leave the classroom and go to the computer lab, and what a great activity for them to go through virtual learning tours!  I think it's a positive way for students to interact with their learning in a hands-on way because they control the places they see and the pace that they travel.  I guess virtual tours could be less productive for students who have a hard time staying on task, or for those who require special services such as having things read aloud to them.  Students who need very structured learning environments may also struggle at the open-ended options of virtual tours. To make it more structured if necessary the teacher could go through it with the entire class on the smart board so that the students follow her lead, but are able to view and respond to what they observe.  Overall, I think that virtual tours add richness to classroom lectures and teaching.