Galactic Explorers: Launching Virtual Field Trips

Outline

If presented as a session, the timeline would be as follows:
(15 Minutes) Ignition Sequence Start: Why VFTs Are a Blast Off

Lift Off!: A fun intro to VFTs and how they can supercharge your lessons.

Navigating the Curriculum Cosmos: Learn how VFTs connect to what you're already teaching.

Cosmic Vistas: A quick-fire tour of jaw-dropping virtual trips from around the globe.

(25 Minutes) Your Mission Control: Essential Tools for Every Navigator

Async Orbit: Self-Paced Journeys: We'll explore ready-to-use asynchronous platforms like Google Arts & Culture and various 360° tours, perfect for independent student exploration.

Live Broadcast from Mission Control: Discover how to connect with experts in real-time using platforms like the CILC database or museum virtual programs for synchronized, live Q&A sessions.

Galactic Builder: Discover how to create your own interactive mini-adventure for a customized asynchronous learning path.

(10 Minutes) Prepare for Launch: Your 4-Step GLUE Mission Plan

Your Flight Path: We'll master the CILC GLUE Method for seamless integration: Goals, Learning Resources, Unit Prep, and Evaluation.

(10 Minutes) Final Approach: Q&A and Debriefing
Ask Mission Control: Ask anything and everything!

Final Debriefing: We'll wrap up with links and a handy mission log of all the tools and tricks we covered.

Outcomes

By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Identify at least two free virtual field trip resources.
- Understand a simple, three-step process for integrating VFTs.
- Find and prepare a VFT to use in your own classroom.

Supporting research

AVID Open Access. "Ed Tip: Planning Virtual Field Trips." AVID Open Access, avidopenaccess.org/resource/ed-tip-planning-virtual-field-trips/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration. CILC, www.cilc.org. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Gijselaers, Janine, et al. “‘We’re going on a virtual trip!’: a switching-replications experiment of 360-degree videos as a physical field trip alternative in primary education.” BMC Psychology, vol. 11, no. 1, 2023. PMC - PubMed Central, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/.

Ross, Tammy. "Virtual Field Trips: Benefits and Resources for Schools." EBSCOpost, 28 Jan. 2021, https://www.google.com/search?q=about.ebsco.com/blogs/ebscopost.

Stanford Accelerator for Learning. "The Science and Design of Virtual Field Trips." Stanford Accelerator for Learning, accelerate.stanford.edu. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

"Virtual Field Trips and Impact on Learning." ResearchGate, Oct. 2021, www.researchgate.net.