Virtual Classroom Connections

Virtual experiences have become increasingly prevalent with the onset of the pandemic, and I was curious about their actual effectiveness in aiding student learning. Jasmin Poor (Ross, 2021), a virtual field trip coordinator, stated during an ISTE conference that virtual field trips are not only less hassle (less safety concerns, no travel time), but they also create "enriching, interactive experiences" that make learning accessible for more students and expose them to more perspectives. In the same article, Tammy Ross (2021) points out that the impact of an experience must be bolstered by preparation and debriefing. This may come in the form of pre-reading or research into the topic or location and discussing or having related activities afterwards to reflect on and apply the learning. The EBSCO article provides a list of resources that may be helpful for the pre and post experience work, which will be linked here.

Bamfield

Bamfield is based in BC and provides a number of virtual labs and field trips for science students. The virtual experiences can be tailored to different age groups and interests, which make it a flexible and widely applicable resource for science teachers. Since the research centre is based in BC, the experiences are more likely to be directly connected to the BC curriculum, which makes it easy to bring into the classroom and relate to what is learned in class. The students in Vancouver may not have easy access to the kinds of settings that are around Bamfield, so having the opportunity to bring it into the classroom can be a valuable learning experience. 

MOA from Home

The Museum of Anthropology is currently open to the public, but they still have a number of virtual experiences available. Two virtual resources are the MOA Collections online and the virtual tour of the Great Hall. The Great Hall has been rendered into a 3D layout, which makes for an even more immersive virtual experience. Students may walk around the area and click on the placards in front of each display, allowing them to freely explore as if they were actually at the museum. This could be a great way to encourage students to explore independently and still get that museum experience.

TELUS Spark

TELUS Spark is based in Calgary, Alberta, but they have a number of relevant virtual experiences. Below is an example of what is available right now.

 

TELUS Spark covers a variety of subjects and brings innovative ways to teach them. For example, Math in Motion may be a new way to communicate math in an elementary setting that reaches more students. I could see this being effective for those that need a more hands-on experience when learning. 

The Spark also offers live surgery observations (such as knee surgeries) for older students. Such a valuable and unique experience may be applicable to senior biology classes when they are learning about muscles and the human body. 

References

Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. (2021). BMSC Live - Virtual Experiences. Retrieved 22 May, 2021 from https://www.bamfieldmsc.com/education/educators/bmsc-live-virtual-experiences

Museum of Anthropology. (23 June 2020). #MOAFomHome: Stay Connected Online. Retrieved 22 May 2021 from https://moa.ubc.ca/2020/06/moafromhome-stay-connected-online/

Ross, T. (28 January 2021). Virtual Field Trips: Benefits and Resources for Schools. EBSCO Post, retrieved 22 May 2021 from https://www.ebsco.com/blogs/ebscopost/virtual-field-trips-benefits-and-resources-schools

TELUS Spark. (2021). Virtual Programs. Retrieved 22 May 2021 from https://www.sparkscience.ca/whats-on/virtual-programs