Project Description  Title: Long Distance Field Trips with Technology  Audience: Teachers who want to make dreams reality through field trips and technology.  Goal: To provide educators with step by step ideas on how to plan and execute long distance field trips with their students using technology.

Abstract Many times students and teachers talk about places in their classrooms. Students benefit by actually experiencing the places rather than simply discussing them. This presentation will give teachers the tools to research a place for a field trip along with time lines and travel tips for students to experience a field trip of a life time. Students will use technology of the internet and power point presentations to increase their learning; not only about the location selected, but also their Reading and English skills. So sit back and get ready to plan a field trip of a life time!

Field Trip of a Lifetime April 20 th -April 22 nd Northern Illinois University PHI in DeKalb Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago

Preliminary Work Choose the tripChoose the trip Internet search for transportation, hotel, sightseeing optionsInternet search for transportation, hotel, sightseeing options Make your contacts: talk to anyone you know who might be able to help you with this tripMake your contacts: talk to anyone you know who might be able to help you with this trip Make your budget: with and without students paying any money.Make your budget: with and without students paying any money.

Collecting Funds Check the internet for any grants available: technology grants, educational grants, scholarships, etc. Contact your local community service organizations. Contact your district superintendent or director for possibilities.

Letter of Intent Compose a letter of intent and send home to parents. The letter should be a rough idea of the trip and the cost. Check list that: their child can go, that they can pay a certain amount, or they cannot go if it will cost. The letter should include that if a ticket is purchased for their child and they do not attend, then the parents will have to reimburse.

Crunch the numbers for the money that you have been awarded and the cost. Contact your supervisor (or whomever you need permission from) with the cost of the trip and the money that you have. Send out the official permission slip and purchase the tickets and cement the trip.

Power Point Photos Contact your local department stores to see if they will donate disposable cameras for each of your students and/or pay for development so that each child has their own camera and then can make their own power point presentations after the trip. Contact your local department stores to see if they will donate disposable cameras for each of your students and/or pay for development so that each child has their own camera and then can make their own power point presentations after the trip.

Students Preliminary Search Have a pre & post worksheet for each part of your trip: transportation, hotel, and tour sights. Students guess answers for the “pre” then surf the net for the exact answers. Time frame: 2 weeks before trip/1 sheet per day

Week Before  Review the worksheets with the students as a synthesis for the trip.  Call all of the contacts: buses, hotels, tour sights etc. to confirm and double check the itinerary.  Send home the exact itinerary to the parents.

Parent Letter Include exact itinerary and phone numbers to hotel. Important phone numbers that parents can contact you if they need to. Separate sheet with emergency numbers of parents in case you need to contact them. Separate sheet for medication permission—if it is prescription then another sheet with exact dosage, Doctor’s name etc. Separate sheet for permission to photograph student and use pictures in presentations. Suggested list of things to pack.

We’re Off on the train

Now Off to Chicago

Great Museum

NIU Time Observed a Reading class. Took a tour of the campus Ate lunch in the cafeteria Sat in on a PHI presentation Bowled and played pool with the college kids Took the campus bus

After the Trip Write thank you notes to all that helped you make this experience happen, students can also write thank you notes. Write out an official travel expense form to show where the donations went. Get the photos developed include a photo cd and make copies for the students’ power points. Make your power point while everything is fresh in your mind.

Student Power Points Have students practice with power point before they make their trip one. Do a group presentation on loading pics into power point. Hand out worksheet for students to follow so their power point has everything included.

Power Point Worksheet 1.Student picks a group pic and title for 1 st slide. 2.Students have the itinerary for 2 nd slide. 3.Students then pick the 3 or 4 main things to talk about and show. 4.Students give their opinion of the trip and 3- 5 supporting reasons for their opinions. 5.Students choose another group picture and ending phrase for their last slide.

Final Synthesis Have students practice presenting their power point presentations to each other to prepare them for possible presentations to groups later.

Mock Trip Students can now make a new trip using their expertise of searching on the web for transportation, sights to see, hotels, costs, and addresses. Students can now make a new trip using their expertise of searching on the web for transportation, sights to see, hotels, costs, and addresses. The only limit---Their Imaginations!! The only limit---Their Imaginations!!