Passage 2When seventh graders in

Passage 2

When seventh graders in Stockton took a field trip to see elephant seals, they didn’t even step outside their school. Instead, with the help of a projector and a video camera, the students teleconferenced with a state park guide on the California coast.

Across a distance of 100 miles, students on the so-called “virtual field trip” got to talk with a guide, watch seals throw sand on themselves, and hear the beasts belch and bark. “If you can’t go somewhere, this can be the next best thing,” says Craig Wed
As the days grow long and the school calendar short, field trip season is in full swing. But with fuel prices rocketing, some schools are discovering virtual field trips as a cost-effective way to add new—or farther afield—excursions.
As of last month, more than 1,125,000 students have participated in virtual field trips organized through the CILC (Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration) website alone. Some 150 institutions—from National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Beyond cost, virtual trips can often be more focused and easily aligned to educational objectives, says Small and others. “Take the kids to the zoo and they are all over the place. Take them to the Bronx Zoo, virtually, and they can go behind the scenes a
A.A trip with a guide.
B.A trip taken online.
C.A trip to a far away place.
D.A trip to the place you like.