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Nearpod Virtual Field Trip Overview
Nearpod Virtual Field Trip Overview
The Nearpod platform is designed to encourage participation for all students through interactive activities that immerse them in virtual learning. One feature of the built-in presentations available on Nearpod is are the virtual field trips which take students on a journey around the world through their laptop screens. This platform is paid for through my school which means that if funding is not available my students would lose access to this benefit, however we were fortunate to have this program this school year. One of the most beneficial components of Nearpod is that I can control what the students see on their screens and they cannot go beyond what I have on my smart board so that we are all engaging in the same content. This program provides my students access to places around the world that they may never have encountered otherwise. While traditional field trips for my students are limited due to funding, transportation, and other constraints I wanted to make sure my students had access to an immersive lesson that would put adaptations into perspective in a way that slides could not. While I am sure my students could build a general idea on their own of the vibrant landscapes of the Galapagos islands, this trip was essential to extend their understanding of how those landscapes were so unique and the relationship that the terrain played in the adaptations of the species that lived on the island. Using Nearpod they are able to scan large sections of the terrain and travel over many sections of the Galapagos. As students moved through the field trip, they were able to build more relevant questions about Darwin and his theories and to have a first hand look at how his finch studies help to prove the theory of evolution through actual evidence.
Lab Activity
Lab Activity
The lab activity is designed to peak student interest in Darwins study of the finches of the Galapagos and the adaptations he discovered. During the lab students used provided utensils to understand how adaptations in the wild are critical to an organisms survival. As they took turns using each of the different types of adaptations they were asked to document if they lived or survived and to reflect on why this happened along with how this activity related to actual animals in the wild. In order to ensure students had a meaningful access opportunity with the virtual field trip to the Galapagos Islands, this lessons was necessary to introduce the concept of adaptations and natural selection. The lab encouraged critical thinking about how organisms must change to fit their environment over time or their species will not likely survive. Many of my students did not know what or where the Galapagos Islands were and why they were so relevant to adaptations that were mentioned in the Pre-Lab questions. Knowing that students were not familiar with the islands made the virtual field trip more necessary for them to experience the content through the eyes and mission of Charles Darwin. The foundational background knowledge from the lab would be supported by the lesson plan and eventually taking the virtual field trip to visualize what we have studied.
The first day that we learned about adaptations was through a lab activity designed to show students how animals have different features to help them survive. In this lab students work in groups of 4 with different utensils that serve as "beaks" to collect their food. They must work with one had behind their back and will not survive if they do not collect at least 10 pieces of food. As students fight to survive they document their progress and answer a series of lab questions at the end of the assignment.
Introduction to Content
Introduction to Content
I used the slideshow to provide relevant real world examples of evolution and to show students how evolution and adaptations are connected. Students begin the lesson with a lab activity that pre-teaches content through an immersive and hands on experience. Once they have concluded the lab and the corresponding questions we moved into the guided notes, video, and checks for understanding. this lesson allowed me to provide foundational knowledge about natural selection and evolution.
Trip to the Galapagos
Trip to the Galapagos
The actual trip to the Galapagos was very engaging for my students and provided them with access to a landscape they may not ever have experienced outside of the classroom. Because Darwins' studies on the Galapagos Islands played such a quintessential role in the discovery and realization of evolution it was crucial for my students to have access to what he experienced. As we traveled through the island they were surprised to see how the landscapes were so drastically different but they began to make the connections between the different finch beaks and why the turtles had longer neck based on food availability.
Nearpod Screen Recording.movThis lesson follow the initial evolution/adaptation lesson and takes students on a trip to different locations. As they move to the different locations on their Chromebooks students discuss and write about why animals across the island have evolved i so many different ways. This trip is something that my students would not get to experience on their own but provides insight into why Darwin studied finches and their unique adaptations. The slides above show our trip through the islands many landscapes and environments. This type of access plays a vita role in my students building connections within content. Without this access to the islands they would have had a harder time seeing the significance environment plays in adaptations and evolution.
Connection Reflection
Connection Reflection
After taking part in the virtual field trip I wanted to gather information about what the experienced. Virtual field trips are access opportunities that support developing deeper content knowledge, exposing students to new career choices they may not have considered, and make them more inquisitive about other areas of science. I decided to ask questions in the reflection that not only checked that they were paying attention, but also asked about how this experience had an overall effect on their understanding of evolution and adaptations in specific environments. As you can see from the answers provided, my students not only thoroughly enjoyed the trip but they took away valuable information that can only come from having a genuine experience with the landscapes and animals of the Galapagos. Looking forward I will continue to provide my students with virtual field trips to places that they have not and may not experience otherwise to deepen content knowledge and give access to to people, programs, resources, and connections that can open doors for them.
1F9F0E06-D896-4C77-A2CF-8B4EE8F28E95 2020-04-12 at 7.55.30 PM.pdfOnce students finished with the virtual field trip they reflected on the lesson and looked beyond one Galapagos species to look at the evolution of other animals on the island. I want to make sure they understand why adaptations are occur and what role the environment plays in those adaptations. The image above are the reflections I gathered from my students about their trip and significance it played in providing them valuable access to the Galapagos Islands.
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