Watch 0:00 to 2:30 about what is a Virtual Field Trip. This company gives a great description on the benefit of virtual field trips. The remaining part of the video describes the technology that the company offers. The value of Google+ over this company is:
1. Google+ is free
2. You can use Google+ on any platform and on mobile devices
3. Did I mention it is free?
Virtual Field Trips connects cultural institutions like museums, zoos and aquariums with schools and non-profits around the country via Google+ Hangouts On Air. Hangouts On Air allow institutions to share universal access to unique cultural and educational experiences regardless of geographical and financial restrictions.
Source: Google+
The following article gives you step-by-step instructions (with pictures!) to set up a learning community for your classroom. As a teacher, you can provide further resources about the discussion before and after the virtual field trip to help students get a much richer experience.
Please note that users in the community need to be 13 years of age and older.
Click here for the article
Source: "11 Steps to Create A Google Plus Community for Your Class ~ Educational Technology and Mobile Learning." 11 Steps to Create A Google Plus Community for Your Class ~ Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
To get connected to the Google+ Teacher Community, click here to fill out the form. This link will begin the process of getting you connected to other classrooms.
In the following article, the author lists the 10 best virtual field trips for students. I want to encourage you to think outside the box and come up with your own virtual field trips for your students.
Click here for the article
Source: Stansbury, Meris. "Ten of the Best Virtual Field Trips | ESchool News | 2." Ten of the Best Virtual Field Trips | ESchool News | 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
If you want to create your own Google+ Hangouts and save them to youtube, check out THIS LINK made by Google with all its awesome features.
Source: google.com
