Most teachers tend to use methodologies that bring the real world into their classrooms. This is accomplished by using pictures, readings, guest speakers, audio/video tapes and recently, the Internet. Most experts in the art and science of teaching suggest each of these methodologies, when used appropriately, can enhance the learning process. Field trips are included as one more attempt to bridge the classroom and the world outside.

Teachers typically engage their students in field trip experiences to facilitate or extend specific learning objectives for the class. These experiences might offer opportunities to talk to people met during the field trip, to view "first-hand" artifacts associated with the trip site, and to undergo authentic experiences that both enliven and enrich the curriculum.

The parallels between "real" field trips and electronic field trips are many. Studies into the use of field trips offer guidance into the use of virtual field trips. Students in both kinds of trips tend to gain more from the experiences if they have specific assignments. That is, they are to look for items that are clearly identified before the trip. Vague directions to "find something interesting to use in your report" are often recipes for a large waste of time.

Since field trips are somewhat of a novelty in the life of a class, some effort has to be made to reduce the time the student sees the trip as just a social experience to one of a learning experience. Efforts by the teacher to familiarize the students with the things likely to be seen on the trip will help maximize the educational benefits likely to occur on the trip.

Electronic field trips have some advantages over their real counterparts. The time and space issues are vastly different. Reliability of bus schedules, loading and unloading students, transporting to and from the site are not limiting issues with electronic field trips. Weather conditions can negatively affect a real field trip. Safety of students on some manufacturing locations can be of concern to the teacher.

Further advantages of electronic field trips include the opportunity to experience an event several times. An audio clip can be downloaded as often as required to hear comments. Movie clips can be viewed over and over again if necessary. It is not uncommon to need to view something several times when looking for different answers. Real field trips are "one shot" events. Students will have to replay from their memory banks events that happened on a real trip.

Finally, preparation and follow-up seem to be the keys to successful field trips. Teachers routinely ask students to report on what they saw on the trip. More reflective thoughts are gleaned from minds by written reports. Electronic field trips allow the same opportunities for immediate and reflective reporting. If you have fast Internet access from several computers in your school, electronic field trips should be added to the list of ways you attempt to bring an "authentic" flavor to your classroom.