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Tag: Virtual Field Trips

  • Discovery Education’s Immersive Learning Resources – EdTech Digest

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    New research included in the Education Insights 2025-2026 report offers a clear view of how important engagement is to learning, motivation, and achievement.

    To support deeper student engagement across the curriculum, Discovery Education makes available to educators worldwide a host of experiences that deeply engages learners and captivates their senses, emotions, and attention, creating a sense of being fully surrounded and absorbed in a particular environment or activity. These resources, which can be found at Discovery Education’s Immersive Learning website, transport students out of their classroom, their neighborhood, and sometimes their planet and time period, to witness firsthand the topic of interest.

    Among the resources found on Discovery Education’s Immersive Learning website are:

    TimePod Adventures

    TimePod Adventures from Verizon and Discovery Education immerses K-12 students in the universe through state-of-the-art, life-size Augmented Reality. Accessible on a browser, Chromebook, or mobile device, students need only internet access and audio. Guided by an AI-powered assistant and featuring grade-band specific lesson plans available in English and Spanish, TimePod Adventures support educators in developing new skills and encourages students to take control, explore incredible environments, and solve complex challenges.

    Sandbox

    The BETT and GESS award winning Sandbox app, which is now available in both the Google Play store and Apple App store, enables students to create virtual worlds using unique objects from history, science, nature, and more. Sandbox also gives students new ways to express themselves and demonstrate their learning through features like photo taking or annotations on virtual text panels. Designed to create immersive experiences, Sandbox offers a mode that allows users to explore and create content from inside their own virtual environments.  Sandbox also includes many pre-built sandboxes exploring diverse subjects, such as ancient Egypt, space exploration, Maya civilization, road construction, and more, with additional themed 3D models added regularly. Finally, subscribers to Discovery Education Experience have access to additional, standards-aligned ready-to-use Sandbox lessons that enhance classroom instruction.

    Game-Based Learning

    Discovery Education’s game-based learning resources boost motivation, create a heightened sense of achievement, encourage a growth mindset, and aid with knowledge retention. Through game-based immersive experiences, students can become more receptive to further learning. Among the game-based learning resources are:

    Crash Course is an interactive 3D experience that helps students in grades 6-12 learn the principles of speed and the forces involved in a real-time crash test-based scenario. In this immersive game-based learning experience from Honda Safety Driven, students select course variables, then take the wheel of a Honda Civic Type R to witness the outcome of safety decisions.

    The cutting edge Haul! Learning Experience is designed to provide students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to discover how copper ore makes its way into the items that power our day. A part of Dig Into Mining – The Story of Copper, the educational program created in partnership with Freeport-McMoRan that uncovers the use of metals such as copper in our everyday life, HAUL!  challenges students to navigate their way through a 3D copper mine to earn their Haul Truck Operator’s Scorecard while learning how STEM is used in this larger-than-life operation.

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    n Operation Communication, a new immersive game from the STEM Careers Coalition, students in grades 6-12 experience a day in the life of an employee in a simulated workplace, navigating production schedules, team dynamics, and customer satisfaction. Players practice a wide range of active skills with a focus on effective communication in the workplace to keep the production line running smoothly and create happy customers.

    HARVEST: From Seed to Success from Cooperative Minds with the CHS Foundation empowers students in grades 3-12 step into the role of a farmer and discover what it takes to grow a successful harvest. In the experience, students consult agricultural professionals to analyze a soil sample, select crops and fertilizers, identify the right moment to harvest, and simulate operating a combine to harvest crops. An accompanying educator guide and ready-to-use student activities make it easy for educators to integrate the resource into any lesson plan.

    Interactives

    With interactive resources from Discovery Education, students can travel the trade paths of Ancient Rome, grow tomatoes in a virtual lab, and solve equations at a zombie luau! Research, experiment and have fun learning about topics at your own pace through a variety of interactive types—including virtual labs, games, investigations, interactive maps, and more. Among the interactives available are:

    – The Interactive Virtual Labs, created in partnership with the LEGO Group’s Build the Change program, investigate Bird Behavior and invite students in grades 6-8 to explore innovative ways to improve human-bird interactions in their shared environment. Designed to spark creativity and curiosity, these labs immerse students in engaging, hands-on experiences that connect the wider world to the classroom.

    – Plus, students of all ages can dig into grade-banded interactives covering important topics like financial literacy, data analysis, biotechnology, and Earth sciences.

    Virtual Field Trips

    Virtual field trips (VFTs) empower educators to introduce students to amazing places, new people and ideas, and remarkable experiences, without ever leaving the classroom. Discovery Education, a pioneer in creating VFTs, offers a large library of fun and engaging resources, including.

    – The Bridge to the Future: A Virtual Field Trip into Extended Reality  with Verizon shows students how extended reality is redefining the world from entertainment and medicine to education and beyond. Students visit the Verizon Innovation Lab in Boston, Massachusetts to discover how new technologies are connecting people and redefining the possibilities of how we interact. Students will also get an up-close look at exciting careers in cybersecurity, gaming, and engineering by meeting with STEM professionals.

    – Additional resources to support learning are available, such as a standards-aligned companion guide with hands-on activities and educator support content. Learn more about all the virtual field trips – including new ones with partners like LEGO, the National Science Foundation, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBA, LIV Golf, and more – here.

    Immersive resources encourage a style of learning which is based on problem-solving and trial and error. Immersive learning gives students permission to fail, to try again, and to overcome obstacles which initially may seem insurmountable. Discovery Education offers educators new to immersive learning a host of professional development resources to ensure they feel supported as they integrate these resources into classroom learning.

    For more about the free Immersive Learning resources from Discovery Education, learn more.

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    Stephen Wakefield

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  • Announcing the Fall 2024 Virtual Field Trip Lineup

    Announcing the Fall 2024 Virtual Field Trip Lineup

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    Get ready to FALL in love with our upcoming Fall 2024 releases! We’re welcoming the season with a series of new Virtual Field Trips and the debut of our first-ever DE Doc. No permission slips required! These virtual events let you take students to amazing places and through engaging topics that give them remarkable experiences […]

    The post Announcing the Fall 2024 Virtual Field Trip Lineup appeared first on Discovery Education Blog.

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    Samantha Huddleston

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  • 15 unique virtual field trips for students

    15 unique virtual field trips for students

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    Key points:

    Virtual field trips have become widely available thanks to more accessible virtual reality technology, and they saw a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when physical field trips were impossible or severely restricted.

    But virtual field trips have always offered engaging and innovative alternatives to in-person field trips that are either too cost-prohibitive or geographically impossible to visit.

    Students can see large-scale processes up close, explore outer space, go back in time to visit ancient civilizations, or travel to different countries to see famous landmarks.

    Here are some great virtual field trips to explore with your students:

    1. Statue of Liberty: Created from 360-degree photos, students can explore the interior and exterior of the Statue of Liberty, along with taking a peek inside the museum.

    2. The Journey of Water: Roughly the size of Texas and Oklahoma combined, Colombia is the second most biologically diverse country on Earth—home to 10 percent of Earth’s plant and animal species! There are over 300 different ecosystems in Colombia. In this virtual field trip, students will explore the magical páramo ecosystem and the stunning mountain landscapes found just beyond the capital city of Bogotá.

    3. The Anne Frank House: Explore the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family in virtual reality using the ‘Anne Frank House VR’ app. The app provides a very special view into the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and the seven other people hid during WWII.

    4. American Museum of Natural History: Virtual field trips allow students of all ages to observe Museum exhibits up-close and complete an activity in order to gain scientific understandings.

    5. National WWII Museum: These virtual trips are streamed directly into your classroom–no special technology required. Focusing on the national impact of World War II, take your students on a cross-country tour of historic sites while examining fascinating artifacts and exhibits at The National WWII Museum. Hosted by student reporters, these virtual field trips will help your students understand how the war affected young people just like them.

    6. The Louvre: Visit the museum rooms and galleries, admire the palace architecture, and enjoy the views.

    7. The Great Barrier Reef: The Great Barrier Reef collection was part of the first group of underwater panoramic images added to Google Maps, the next step in our quest to provide people with the most comprehensive, accurate and usable map of the world. With these vibrant and stunning photos you don’t have to be a scuba diver—or even know how to swim—to explore and experience six of the ocean’s most incredible living coral reefs. Now, anyone can become the next virtual Jacques Cousteau and dive with sea turtles, fish and manta rays.

    8. The Nature Conservancy: Designed for ages 9-15 but customizable for all ages, virtual field trips allow students to travel the world and explore natural environments without leaving the classroom. Each virtual field trip contains a video, teacher guide and student activities.

    9. The British Museum: Explore more than 60 galleries at the British Museum from home. Gallery pages feature a range of exciting resources, including virtual tours with Google Street View, object highlights, timelines, family activities and facts.

    10. Great Wall of China: As China’s most famous attraction, the Great Wall of China is an essential stop on all China tours. Commonly considered a wonder of the world, the Great Wall boasts a history of over 2,000 years and stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it one of the most impressive ancient structures on the planet.

    11. Ellis Island: On this Scholastic virtual field trip, students will experience first-hand what it felt like to come to the United States and progress through Ellis Island.

    12. Georgia Aquarium Ocean Voyager Cam: Explore the ocean’s great depths, virtually. Dive into vast, open waters in Ocean Voyager to learn about our whale sharks, manta rays, and over 90 other species that live in this 6.3-million-gallon exhibit.

    13. Amazon Fulfillment Center: From the online store to your doorstep, discover how computer science, state-of-the-art engineering, and incredible people deliver customer orders at Amazon.

    14. National Museum of Natural History Virtual Tours: The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. Visitors can also access select collections and research areas at our satellite support and research stations as well as past exhibits no longer on display.

    15. Johnson Space Center: Join Boeing and Discovery Education on a mission to inspire the world through aerospace innovation with an exclusive virtual field trip to historic Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This behind-the-scenes tour will introduce students to just a few of the amazing Boeing employees who are preparing to write the next chapter of space history with the launch of the Starliner/CST-100 spacecraft and the deployment of the Space Launch System (SLS).

    Laura Ascione
    Latest posts by Laura Ascione (see all)

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    Laura Ascione

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  • Friday 5: AR and VR

    Friday 5: AR and VR

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    Key points:

    Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are fun to use, but AR and VR tools also have a number of uses when it comes to connecting students with experiences they can’t necessarily have in person.

    These tools are engaging, bringing students up close with historic landmarks from around the world, illustrating science concepts that are hard to see without high-tech equipment, and giving students different views and perspectives on hard-to-understand concepts.

    What is meant by AR and VR?

    AR and VR examples can be found everywhere–not just the classroom. These tools add something special to learning, and the impact they have on student engagement is unparalleled. Here’s a handful of fun and engaging AR and VR tools to get started.

    What is an example of augmented reality?

    There are many augmented reality examples in education settings. These tools have a number of benefits for students, and because the tools are engaging, students are more likely to absorb classroom lessons and concepts. Plus, students are engaged in active learning with AR and VR tools.

    What is the difference between virtual reality and augmented reality?

    Virtual reality immerses a person in the experience, as if they’re actually there. Augmented reality is the idea that the user brings something into their real world and using a device to see something that isn’t actually there–animation or 3D images come into the real world. Instead of using VR to gamify the classroom, students can use VR to develop higher-order thinking skills that are critical for thriving in today’s digitally connected society–here’s how.

    What are VR examples?

    In looking at virtual reality examples, innovative immersive experiences are among the most popular. As new VR technologies emerge, educators at all levels are finding new applications to augment the classroom experience–and for good reason. VR allows educators to move past pages in a textbook to create totally immersive experiences that stimulate and inspire students. Implementing VR in education should not be a chore–and finding high-quality VR deployment partners will help streamline device management.

    What is the main problem with VR and AR?

    Equity of access is often one of the biggest problems when discussing advantages and disadvantages of AR and VR. The two technologies are immersive and engaging, but access to devices through which to experience immersive and augmented learning experiences can be limited. Inequities in technology access are one of the main challenges when trying to use such digital tools in the classroom.

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    Laura Ascione

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  • This Month at DE: May

    This Month at DE: May

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    Step closer to summer with new resources from Discovery Education! Find engaging content for your May lessons to keep your students excited about learning through the end of the school year. Pop of Professional Learning What’s New Trending Topics Magic Moment Pop of Professional Learning Educators, administrators, and corporate leaders all agree: we need to […]

    The post This Month at DE: May appeared first on Discovery Education Blog.

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    Rachel Anzalone

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  • Friday 5: Virtual field trips

    Friday 5: Virtual field trips

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    Key points:

    While virtual field trips are not a new phenomenon, they gained popularity shortly before COVID due in part to their ability to expose students to places and experiences they may not otherwise access due to funding barriers or geographical limitations.

    When COVID mandated at-home and hybrid learning, many educators turned once again to virtual trips to keep students engaged in learning during pandemic-related instructional challenges.

    Virtual field trips

    In a nutshell, virtual field trips are digital experiences and explorations through places such as landmarks, museums, or even outer space. They employ animations, images, videos, sound clips, and 3D technologies to give students an authentic-as-possible opportunity to explore pyramids, underwater ecosystems, the Grand Canyon, well-known landmarks, and more. Some virtual trips for kids are accessible with a simple device, while others employ virtual reality headsets for a more immersive experience.

    Virtual field trips and STEM learning

    Hands-on STEM subjects are challenging to teach when students aren’t in the classroom all the time, and student engagement remains a challenge even after COVID. Virtual field trips address both of these persistent roadblocks. These trips can help students get a front-row look at STEM outside of the classroom. Where can those engineering concepts you learn during school take you in adulthood? Is it possible to be creative in a STEM career? Here’s how to boost STEM learning with virtual field trips for students.

    Bringing real-world issues into the classroom with virtual trips

    Climate change is an increasingly important subject in school curriculums. Today’s students will almost certainly inherit a climate-affected world and will need to understand the mechanisms of global warming if they are to grow into climate-conscious, civic-minded members of society. However, many students are dissuaded from pursuing environmental science due to mundane textbooks and complex diagrams. This is a serious issue, as students will need an in-depth understanding of greenhouse gases and ecological damage in the future. Educators can engage students and build excitement around environmental science using the latest virtual reality (VR) technology. This tech can take students on free interactive virtual field trips, meaning they can virtually visit climate-affected areas from the safety and comfort of the classroom. Make real-world issues more relevant for students.

    Virtual field trips through augmented reality

    Augmented reality gives educators the opportunity to bring the world to life. But first we need to see the world. For example, educators might enrich students’ learning by taking field trips to the heart of their capital city and asking students to draw landmarks, interview tourists, use iPad voice recorders, and make films using the camera on iPad, editing them in iMovie to bring those landmarks to life.  Then, using augmented reality apps, educators can link the children’s artwork to their videos and embed it all in a Google Map. This means that anyone can point their camera at the trigger image and find out more about the landmark they are visiting that day–all narrated by students. Here’s how to do it. 

    Why virtual field trips work

    This upcoming generation of students grew up with internet-connected smart devices. For them, information comes instantaneously. Unfortunately, a barrage of apps are constantly combating their attention economy and impacting their focus and retention in class. Interactive virtual trips for elementary students can really help boost engagement. Virtual field trips with technologies such as AR and VR provide new learning opportunities that can keep students engaged and make lessons stick.

    Laura Ascione
    Latest posts by Laura Ascione (see all)

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    Laura Ascione

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  • This Month at DE: March

    This Month at DE: March

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    Move into March with new, engaging resources from Discovery Education! Commemorate Women’s History Month, explore literacy topics, and find content to help you make your mark with exciting March lessons! Pop of Professional Learning What’s New Trending Topics Magic Moment Pop of Professional Learning Every teacher has thought, “How can I make this lesson more exciting […]

    The post This Month at DE: March appeared first on Discovery Education Blog.

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    Rachel Anzalone

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  • This Month at DE: February

    This Month at DE: February

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    Turn your calendar to February and find new engaging resources from Discovery Education! With DE resources, you can plan February fun where your students can explore STEM innovations, important moments in history, and career options to prepare them for the future! Pop of Professional Learning What’s New Trending Topics Magic Moment Pop of Professional Learning […]

    The post This Month at DE: February appeared first on Discovery Education Blog.

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    DE Staff

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  • This Month at DE: January

    This Month at DE: January

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    Welcome back! As you jump into January, Discovery Education has new resources and ideas to help you spark students’ curiosity in potential careers, meaningful moments in history, and STEM! Pop of Professional Learning What’s New Trending Topics Magic Moment Pop of Professional Learning Is one of your New Years Resolutions to plan cross-curricular lessons? Two […]

    The post This Month at DE: January appeared first on Discovery Education Blog.

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    Rachel Anzalone

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