Our Class Trip to ...

Taking a class trip is a common occurence in education and if done correctly can be a very rewarding experience as well as a very positive communications tool for parents and the community. So, you will take a "Class Trip" in this class and use technology to produce that very useful communications tool! Look below.

Picture yourself as one of the teachers of a grade level team of 3 or 4 classes of students. Your students have been working together on an interdisiplinary unit that lends itself well to a class trip. As a group, you have asked your principal for permission to go on this class trip, and she has agreed with one request of you .... that you document your trip with a description of what you did including pictures of the students involved in the trip activities, and that you make a presentation of this at the upcoming PTA meeting (she's smart enough to know what a positive communications and public relations thing this can be). You agree and off you go!

To simulate this experience in our class, here is what you are to do:

  1. Get together in small groups of 3 or 4 people.
  2. Decide on a destination (Virtual or Real) for "Our Trip to..." (can be anywhere - a trip you would enjoy would be best - go some place interesting - have some fun).
  3. As a group, take your class trip during the time noted for the trip on our class schedule (or any other time you can get together depending on the destination of the trip).
  4. Keep notes of your activities and document what you do with lots of pictures that you will use for your presentation - people you meet, activities, signs, - make sure you are in lots of pictures doing all kinds of trip activities.
  5. If you have a digital camera, use it - if not, use a regular camera. Get the pictures developed quickly so you have them for the next class. When you develop them, get regular pictures plus, ask them to put the pictures on CD in digital format.
  6. Edit your pictures for size and quality using Microsoft Photo Editor as needed.
  7. Come to next class after the trip ready to prepare a presentation of your trip including your pictures using Powerpoint. We'll teach you the basics of PowerPoint during the next class.  If you used a digital camera, make sure your pictures are saved to CD or floppy disks so that you don't waste time trying to access them. Or, make sure you know how to access them from the camera's memory stick using a computer in the lab - you might have to bring cables, etc.
  8. Be prepared to present your "Class Trip" to our class the following week.

GOOD LUCK! - Syllabus