Virtual Field Trips - part 2

Last week we started on our Virtual Field trips. Our student-teachers created some ideas and the 3rd graders got to give feedback. Here is the full post from Part 1

This week we added an element...

The 3rd graders were broken up in to groups of 3, with one group of 4. Each group was assigned a student teacher or two (the numbers don't balance out perfectly as you can see) and a group leader for the day.

The Group Leader created a document and shared it with their group mates. They gave "can edit" access to the other 3rd graders in their group.

The Group Leader then shared it with me, Mr. Casal, as well as Professor Linton and the student-teachers assigned to the group. We were given "can comment" access in order to give feedback and keep the ownership with the authors, the 3rd graders.

Once the document was shared the 3rd graders each took a section of the page and put their thoughts down. Based on the outline from last week the direction was "envision a virtual field trip you would want to create, where would you go, what would you want to see & do."

Each student put down their thoughts...

This document is meant to be more of a notes or brainstorming document than a final product. It is a great way to get the students familiar with the various ways to create & share documents and to experience the Google Document experience from all sides (owners, commenters, viewers, etc).

The next steps will be to get the feedback from our student teachers & do some revising. In addition, we'll be getting the 3rd graders some "final" trips that they will take, in their groups. They can then give feedback on the actual experience as well as refine the brainstorming document we created today to reflect the possible, probable, and doable things they look for in a "perfect" virtual field trip...

Stay tuned!

Virtual Field Trips - part 1

Today was all about Virtual Field Trips!

Ok, so not all about them. Today was the first real introduction for the 3rd graders as to what they are.

The pre-service teachers in North Carolina created a Google Doc with basic outlines of the various trips.

That document was shared with the 3rd graders in Brooklyn. As a class we talked briefly about each one, the students read each description and then commented on the various trips. In addition to leaving basic comments, they also responded to each other's comments, reinforcing points.

The 3rd graders have used Google Documents in the past, worked collaboratively with each other, but this was the first time they commented on work created outside their class. It was very exciting for them.

Next week we'll be splitting the 3rd graders into groups of 3 to "take" the virtual field trips. After that they'll share their thoughts with the -preservice teachers on North Carolina, providing feedback and impressions.

"Wheels up" next Friday...!