Virtual field trips in education of earth and environmental sciences

• Published in: Procedia, social and behavioral sciences Vol. 15; pp. 3239 - 3243
• Main Author: Çaliskan, Onur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2011
• Subjects: computer aided education; education of earth and environmental sciences; fieldwork; information and communication technology; Virtual field trip; fieldwork; Virtual field trip; information and communication technology; education of earth and environmental sciences; computer aided education
• ISSN: 1877-0428; 1877-0428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.278

Laboratory exercises, field observations and field trips are fundamental parts of many earth science and environmental science courses. Field observations and field trips can be constrained because of distance, time, expense, scale, safety, or complexity of real-world environments. During the last decades actual field trips have been losing power and attention because of the limitations mentioned above and virtual field trips have been started to think as an alternative to the actual field trips. The aim of this study is to research the historical background and development of the virtual field trips in education of earth and environmental sciences. It is also discussed the potential and limitations of the virtual reality to provide and support studentcentered, meaningful and deeper learning environment.