This week’s lesson is quite interesting. I have used QR codes but never knew how to make them or why they may be beneficial to me in a classroom or library. After exploring and reading the various articles, I can see some good uses, but as an elementary teacher right now I am not so sure. Students do not have access to devices that can scan the QR codes at my school at this point. Now if they are at home, I can assume some will have access to a phone or tablet, but not all.
That being said, it was easy to create and seems like something the students would think is pretty cool. Not having to type in a web address or search would be very beneficial if I wanted to students to use a certain website or go straight to a certain page or activity in our online textbook. I can also see having students use them I have them create an infographic through Canva or another presentation activity.
Virtual field trips are definitely on the rise due to our current COVID-19 crisis. I think these can be helpful to teacher or librarians to get students interested in what they are teaching or sharing in a lesson. I was not a big fan of the virtual tours and think some students would get bored as I did. I found them to be a bit frustrating as well when they wouldn’t move as quickly as I would have liked them too.
Now the virtual classrooms look very interesting. This may be something that as a current classroom teacher I may find I need at some point. I also think librarians could definitely use the virtual classroom to get students interested in different books or other ideas.
https://girlsleadstem.com/virtual-field-trip/
I choose the virtual field trip through Girls Lead STEM a website through the Girl Scouts that have a neat virtual field trip. I liked the virtual field trip because it deals with STEM and getting girls involved in Science, Technology, and Math. The video is 25 minutes and actually kept me interested, which seems difficult these days as my attention span has gotten very short. I added the QR code to the Girls Lead STEM activity guide. The activity guide has a few pre and post activities that go with the virtual field trip and I really liked that. The students would be more involved as would the teacher who is using it virtually.
I love your virtual field trip choice! That would be a great whole class virtual experience. It could also be a really fun way to keep up after school clubs during distance learning. Hosting some different virtual experiences that students may be interested and having a teacher or two host a Zoom meeting to discuss and maybe lead projects.
I really appreciate your field trip choice-what a great resource for families during this time when kids not only missed out on the end of school but are limited to their ‘real life’ learning opportunities this summer. I love the idea of virtual field trips as an alternative to the real field trips that are not an option at this time. My family has really struggled with not being able to spend this time being active and out, we love to visit the science museum, hiking trails, botanical gardens, national mall, and other ways to encourage interactive experiences with our kids, outside of the house and away from electronics. Virtual field trips like we are experiencing in this class offer up the chance to get some of that experience by opening up the possibilities available from home and making them more interactive. The Girl Scouts STEM option you chose even takes this one step further by offering up follow up activities and guides that help the adult to adjust the information/activities by age and to expand on the information.
Beverly,
This is such a great virtual field trip idea – I completely agree that it’s so important to provide STEM learning opportunities for girls! My school offers an after school club called Girl Smarts and this would be an awesome field trip for that club to take!
-Gray
I love the girls in stem choice. Promoting girls in math and science is so important. I’m happy to see that more girls are interested and that there are programs that are specifically geared towards little girls.
I really like the field trip you chose, especially being a troop leader myself! Having the pre- and post- activities is fantastic because I think there needs to be some guidance when using any of these field trips. Especially if it’s being done at home instead of the classroom.
Hi Beverly,
You make a very good point about QR codes and their suitability for various age groups. As a middle school teacher who teaches mostly 8th graders, most of my students have a device with them at school and therefore QR codes might work better with them. High school students would equally do well with them. But you are right, even though elementary teachers may have many ideas for how they could be useful in their schools, they are effective only when students have devices and many elementary students naturally do not.