~What is a virtual tour?
A Vvirtual Tour is a simulation of an existing location, usually composed of a sequence of video images. They also may use other multimedia elements such as sound effects, music, narration, and text.
How to Incorporate a Virtual Tour into the Classroom:
~Children in a class (ranging anywhere between the 1st grade to the 12th grade) can have the privilege to choose what kind of virtual tour to take, and where they want the tour to take them. Students love the power of choice. Also, teachers have many options of ideas and strategies of follow up assignments for the virtual tour, such as a reflection paper the students must write, or creating their own audio podcast to explain their thoughts.
~A teacher can also involve the students in the learning process by requiring her classroom to break into groups and each create their own virtual tour. This way, the students are fully engaging in a class activity and fulfilling a class requirement for the grade-book.
~The PROS and CONS
It is a genius design to involve a classroom of children (of any age) to travel the world from their classroom desks. This can be a positive because it saves so much money for the school, when compared with field trips and transportation.
However, a con to virtual tours would be that it may seem lazy to many parents or other educators; many may view the virtual tours as a teacher slacking off, not allowing truly allowing students to experience the place or event they are touring.
You have some very good ideas for incorporating a virtual tour into classroom lessons. I wouldn't worry about anyone's thinking you're lazy to be using a virtual tour... just ask them to create one!
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