Interactive+vs.+Actual+Field+Trips

There are always pros and cons to field trips whether students physically go to a location or they experience the trip through the use of technology.

**__Interactive Field Trips__**

 **__Actual Field Trips__**
 * A great economical way for students to have an engaging experience without leaving their classroom.
 * Not every student will be permitted to attend an actual field trip. An interactive field trip will help involve all students in the experience.
 * Students can visit locations that may be too far of a distance to actually visit.
 * Given that students do not leave their classroom there is a greater sense of safety and security linked to the trip.
 * These field trips can also be experienced more often throughout the day. There are not as many time constraints.
 * The learning experience is very similar to that of actually visiting a specific location for a field trip.
 * It allows for smaller tours to take place and more questions will be answered by the subject matter expert.
 * Interactive field trips are wonderful alternatives to the actual field trip. One of the downfalls is that it prevents the students from actually using their senses being in the same location as the subject.
 * Nothing is perfect, including technology. At times there will be technological problems.


 * Students can experience their surroundings using all of their senses.
 * Many of the tour guides can be seen as someone to watch the students opposed to the subject matter expert that they are.
 * Inappropriate behavior can be seen more when students are taken out of the school setting.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 19.2px;">The students are a part of a very hands-on, engaging activity.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 19.2px;">The cost can often be too expensive. Many schools do not have extra busses and drivers to take the students.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 19.2px;">Taking students to an off-site location can be affected by events out of the teachers control such as the weather or mechanical issues with the busses.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 19.2px;">Students can transfer their knowledge from the classroom to another location and apply what they have learned.