VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3614/is_200407/ai_n9454464/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1

(a) The above link is the article I found on Virtual Field Trips. It has a very positive view on them. It talks about how you can visit areas that are far off from where you live by visiting them Virtually. It also gives very helpful tips on how to organize and plan a virtual field trip.
(b) The article relates to teaching and learning because it goes into much detail on how to make sure plan the trip. It makes you think in terms of how the trip will be presented, how to prepare for it and who will be participating. The article also relates because it states how important technology is and how virtual field trips are moving into the technology era. It also explains that many teachers are resisting the change and these types of trips because they are so use to the old way of doing things.
(c) I really think virtual field trips are a wonderful idea, however, I do not see them as a substitute rather I see them as a supplement. I think normal get on a bus and go to a destination field trips are so important and should still be done today. I loved going on field trips when I was younger, I learned so much and didn't even realize I was learning while on them. I understand that with gas prices that window of going on field trips is slowly closing but I believe they can still be done. Obviously there will be less each year due to rising prices but because of that there should definitely be an increased number of virtual trips. I would have loved visiting the Great Wall of China or Washington D.C. when I was little and learning (virtually of course) and today that seems possible because of the rapid expansion of the internet and this amazing thing called virtual teaching.
(d) I think further investigation would definitely be useful. With my further investigation I was able to find out what a huge impact gas prices are creating on classes taking field trips. All in all further knowledge on the subject could only be a gain.