Virtual Field Trip Problems, Mistakes, and Things to Avoid

If you’ve been wanting to try your hand at taking a virtual field trip in your classroom, here are the biggest things NOT to do – learn from my mistakes so you don’t have to! Virtual field trips can be such a great learning experience for students, but just like anything digital there are some problems you can run into. Here are some virtual field trip problems to avoid!

Watch the Video for Virtual Field Trip Problems

Virtual Field Trip Problems to Avoid

Here are the biggest Virtual Field Trip Problems I’ve run into when planning a virtual field trip in my classes:

1. Forgetting to check the tech on a student device
2. Using a website that’s really cool, but costs $ or just overcomplicates things
3. Media Time Trap
4. Giving the handouts right away
5. Not having a fast finisher/next step

Let’s talk a little bit more about Virtual Field Trip Problems!

Virtual Field Trip Mistake #1

Forgetting to check the tech on a student device is the first virtual field trip mistake to avoid! Often we set up or build the virtual field trip on our teacher computers, which is just reasonable. The catch here is that sometimes a district has different security settings for teachers than they do for teachers.

The easy way to fix this is to snag a student device either during a passing period, a quiet moment in class, or when students might be working in a small group without their school issued laptop. Pull up the site to make sure you can access it.

Virtual Field Trip Mistake #2

Using a website that’s really cool, but costs money or overcomplicates things unnecessarily. Listen, I’m all for tech in the classroom, but there are times where tech becomes the focus instead of language learning. And money – well, we all know there are tons of things we could spend our money on in the classroom. Choosing wisely is important, and when there are free tools that are awesome, why spend your budget here?

Virtual Field Trip Mistake #3

Getting sucked into the scroll for the “perfect” piece of media. It’s easy to spend hours scrolling YouTube and Pinterest looking for just the right video or infographic. Embrace the “done is better than perfect” attitude here, or every virtual field trip you make will take days of your life. Of course, there are a few strategies to streamline your search! Check out my blog post with tips here.

Virtual Field Trip Mistake #4

Giving your students the handouts right away. Of course, handouts are optional and I talk about that here in my Behind the Scenes: Create a Virtual Field Trip with Me! blog post. BUT – if you do create a handout, graphic organizer, or comprehension activities of any kind, make sure you don’t give the students access to it right away. Let them explore the map and enjoy the “trip” first!

Virtual Field Trip Mistake #5

The last mistake you may make is forgetting to have a fast finisher handy for your students. One of the neatest things about a virtual field trip is that students are able to explore and discover on their own, working at their own pace! However, because they’re working on their own, they’ll all finish at different speeds. Neglecting to have a next step or options for your students to choose from is just asking for classroom management issues, in my opinion! Here are a few related posts for you to consider:

• Classroom Management Strategies for MS & HS
• Low Prep Fast Finisher Activities

What Actually Works When Planning a Virtual Field Trip

Now that we have talked about what not to do, let’s focus on what really works. After a few bumpy starts, I finally found my rhythm with virtual field trips and it made all the difference. First, always plan your “travel route” before your students do. Walk through the whole thing. If you are using something like Google My Maps, make sure every link still works and that any embedded videos are age appropriate and still available.

Then, think about pacing. Students love clicking around, but they also need structure. One simple way to keep them engaged is by building a mini checklist or giving them a “passport” to fill in as they go. You are still giving them freedom, but with a purpose. It keeps the experience from turning into a free-for-all and helps them stay on task.

Let the Fun Happen Naturally

Sometimes the best part of a virtual field trip is what you didn’t plan. Students will often find a cool fact, ask a great question, or notice something unexpected. That’s the magic of it. Be ready to let the trip guide the discussion. You might end up diving into a cultural celebration you didn’t plan for, or a student might get curious about a recipe, song, or local artist they discovered. Let them chase that curiosity for a minute. That is real learning.

Also, do not forget to save time at the end for reflection. It does not have to be fancy. Ask a few simple questions like What surprised you or What would you want to explore in real life. Sometimes their answers will blow you away.

Want to see how I build a virtual trip from start to finish? I walk through the whole thing right here.

More on Virtual Field Trip Problems for Spanish Class

If you want to learn even more about virtual field trips, check out this in-depth post with EVERYTHING you need to know – which programs you can choose from, how to include it in your lesson plan, different ideas for ways to use them in a unit – and more! Click here to read the post.

Example Virtual Field Trip Using Google My Maps

If you’d like to grab a free virtual field trip to use with your Spanish classes, sign up below to grab a trip to the Dominican Republic!

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