Online Field Trips Boost Reading Skills
Teachers search the Internet for sites that will provide students with a glimpse of places around the world. Now students don't have to leave home to see virtual museums. Many virtual field trip sites have begun streaming video and audio to substitute for the real thing. Technology has leveled the 'playing field' taking students to places they have only seen through other eyes or heard second-hand.
Explore for yourself, Thinkport, a site designed by MPT- Maryland Public Television- in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education. Thinkport, a free comprehensive site that houses virtual field trips along with teacher resources, support strategies and interactive activities that make these field trips meaningful learning experiences.
Pathways to Freedom: Maryland & the Underground Railroad tells the story of slavery and escaping to freedom. It is loaded with facts, resources and an interactive section that is an amazing activity. "Make your Own Secret Quilt Message" is a great example of using technology and tools to actively engage students in their learning.
Knowing Poe: The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe and Exploring Maryland’s Roots are other virtual expeditions offering students the chance to explore independently, a chance to make decisions on their own and participate actively in a virtual environment.
Knowing Poe won a Webby in Education Award, an award honoring excellence in Web design, functionality and creativity and recent research substantiates that these sites are helping students learn and increase reading skills.
According to a scientifically-based research study completed by MPT "Kids are critical consumers of electronic media. We designed the online field trips to teach, but they also had to be very sophisticated, fun, and relevant in order to capture the students' interest," said MPT Vice President and Chief Education Officer Gail Porter Long. "Since we began our digital projects in education using our public television resources, we've believed that the web can help teach. This study now backs that up."
Explore for yourself, Thinkport, a site designed by MPT- Maryland Public Television- in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education. Thinkport, a free comprehensive site that houses virtual field trips along with teacher resources, support strategies and interactive activities that make these field trips meaningful learning experiences.
Pathways to Freedom: Maryland & the Underground Railroad tells the story of slavery and escaping to freedom. It is loaded with facts, resources and an interactive section that is an amazing activity. "Make your Own Secret Quilt Message" is a great example of using technology and tools to actively engage students in their learning.
Knowing Poe: The Life and Times of Edgar Allan Poe and Exploring Maryland’s Roots are other virtual expeditions offering students the chance to explore independently, a chance to make decisions on their own and participate actively in a virtual environment.
Knowing Poe won a Webby in Education Award, an award honoring excellence in Web design, functionality and creativity and recent research substantiates that these sites are helping students learn and increase reading skills.
According to a scientifically-based research study completed by MPT "Kids are critical consumers of electronic media. We designed the online field trips to teach, but they also had to be very sophisticated, fun, and relevant in order to capture the students' interest," said MPT Vice President and Chief Education Officer Gail Porter Long. "Since we began our digital projects in education using our public television resources, we've believed that the web can help teach. This study now backs that up."
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