Category Archives: fieldtrip

Teaching Global change at university

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V-Global is an innovative initiative aimed at introducing university teacher to the dynamic world of virtual field trips as a powerful pedagogical tool for addressing critical topics like sustainability and Global Change. At a time of climate change, teaching environmental and sustainability issues in higher education is a major challenge. How are these subjects addressed in higher education curricula? How can ESD be developed at university? These questions will be the focus of this forthcoming seminar event, which will present the analysis carried out on this subject as part of the Erasmus Plus V-Global project.

To learn more about this, please sign up by registering for our first multiplier event on Monday 23th October 9:00AM to 11:00AM (ECT).

Develop your teaching skills for environmental issues by registering for the MOOC Virtual Field Trip and Global Change: A Blended Learning Approach. The MOOC will open on 18 October 2024. Link to register for this course .

General Objectives:

  • Promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at the university level by guiding university educators in adopting digital and innovative teaching practices, such as virtual field trips.
  • Ensuring the provision of high-quality higher education, striving for excellence, and contributing to the development of a knowledge society by integrating teaching methods that address the challenge of enhancing students’ digital skills
  • Cultivating collaborative blended teaching concept within the framework of ESD.

Photo by David Tip on Unsplash

Athens’ Virtual field trip

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As part of the V-global project, we realized a field in Athens in May 2022.

The data collected allowed us to collaboratively create 5 virtual terrains on global change. These virtual fields are based on a common methodology.

Methodology to create VFT

  1. Identify keywords and choose a problem
  2. Identify 5 relevant datas
  3. Geolocate them
  4. Build the scenario of the virtual field trip
  5. Elaboration of the virtual field trip

The virtual fields were then created using different tools: Storymap and Genially. The renderings are varied and present the different ways of exploring the space virtually.

 

Virtual Field Trip created

The Université Paris Cité’s field trip is based on a sensitive approach to the field. It is enhanced by artistic representations of the space.

The virtual field trip of Universität Hamburg is participative and includes tools like limesurvey or filling the blanck.

The virtual field trip developed by Eurogéo is based on a more conceptual (with a heuristic map) and visual approach with visual panoramas of the area.

Commonspace has developed a virtual field trip  on the scenes of everyday life with both an interpretation of spatial practices and an illustrated road trip.

Finally, NTUA’s virtual field trip  proposes a historical approach of Athens put in perspective with a spatial reading of the city.

Photo credits : David Tip on Unsplash

V-Global field trip in Athens

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The first V-Global project field trip took place on the 3rd and 4th of May 2022 in Athens. 25 participants from all over Europe visited the city following 4 itineraries presented here.

The fieldwork allowed participants to collect geolocalized data (photos, sounds, videos, feelings) with the geolocalization applications: SW Maps and GeoTag. The participants engaged in a collaborative work with Miro. They shared their experiences, recorded their ideas, and selected the most relevant data. The discussions helped build the narrative of the virtual field trips that are now being developed.

Credits : Caroline Leininger-Frézal, May 3 2022, Athens town centre

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Exploring sustainable development in Hamburg virtually

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picture CO2 meterExploring sustainable development in Hamburg virtually – through the lens of virtual field trips

The team of Universität Hamburg works in the Faculty of Education in the Department of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Natural Sciences education.

How will we contribute to V-Global?

Our main expertise lies in developing real and virtual field trips with a particular perspective on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as this is also a cross-cutting theme in teacher training at the Universität Hamburg.

To achieve our goal to further promote ESD for future teachers, we have already created a list of tools that are suitable to create virtual field trips.bike lane image

An interesting way of working in this context is with 360-degree cameras. We have also digitized the first field trips in Hamburg on different topics, for example mobility, housing and energy with ArcGIS StoryMaps.

These examples of virtual field trips will be made freely available through the VGlobal website and thus further contribute to learning about theoretical concepts in real and virtual environments on ESD.

This combination is a first step to show didactical and methodological implementation of innovative and participative approaches to learning (and teaching) at university level.

Find out more about the VGlobal Project

Photos i) CO2 meter ii) bike lanes and mobility

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Virtual Fieldwork Experiences

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The move to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has forced higher education institutions and schools to find new and innovative ways to teach their students. Using virtual field trips has increasingly become a pedagogical strategy for connecting students to important educational experiences. virtual field image

According to Granshaw & Duggan-Haas (2012), a Virtual Fieldwork Experience (VFE) is an enquiry-based teaching tool that allows a field site to be brought into the classroom. The VFE originates from Geography and Earth Sciences education,. It’s purpose is to simulate the experiences of doing research outside of a class or laboratory so that skills can be developed and knowledge gained.

VFEs can offer opportunities to explore sites that are not practical to travel to in person. They are useful as they allow immersive experiential learning opportunities to be undertaken so that students can practice and develop their skills in simulated situations and circumstances. This makes the fieldwork more accessible, inclusive and equitable. Fragile environments that may be under pressure from visitors can be visited without concerns over conservation and sustainability.

technology allows students to travel and experience the world in time and space

VFE imageA range of interactive digital learning tools, like drones, virtual reality headsets and the use of remote sensors, can be offered during Virtual Fieldwork Experiences to provide opportunities for students to develop their fieldwork skills. There may also be some situations in which specific fieldwork locations cannot be visited or when field visits take place at all.

The VGlobal project will explore and promote the use of virtual fieldwork experiences in higher education institutions and encourage teachers and lecturers to develop their own VFEs for their students.

Find out more about the aims and objectives of the VGlobal Project 

Reference: Granshaw, F.D. and Duggan-Haas, D., 2012. Virtual fieldwork in geoscience teacher education: Issues, techniques, and models. Geological Society of America Special Papers, 492, pp.285-303.