Introduction
Learning is a process that requires continuous effort and exposure to various aspects for knowledge consolidation and application in real life. The Virtual Field Trip (VFT) provides a great opportunity for exploring key phenomena and relating them to learning resources. Google Chrome has been my preferred browser due to its ease of use, while sites such as IXL.com, Mathnation.com, and Mathispower4u.com proved crucial in my resources search.
Best Search Engine
My best search engine before and during the VFT has been Google Chrome. According to Ok and Rao (2019), Chrome has attracted many users due to its reliability and relevancy in search results. Chrome’s add-ons make finding relevant information for a digital field trip easier. Chrome’s ability to sync and save data from several devices’ browser sessions is a major advantage. This means that all of the browser data, such as search history and favorite web pages, will be accessible across all devices, allowing one to seamlessly continue a search that they began on their desktop computer (Ok & Rao, 2019). Accessing one’s research from any location makes it easy to start up where one left off, which is very helpful when organizing a virtual field trip.
To further facilitate access to and organization of research, Chrome has a variety of add-ons and apps that may be integrated into the browser. Using Google Chrome is significantly beneficial as one can use Evernote Web Clipper to Keep notes and schedules, which can be retrieved from the Evernote account (Ok & Rao, 2019). Chrome’s capability to translate web pages presents a crucial factor that proved beneficial in the VFT resources search. This is extremely helpful when looking for information written in a different language. In the VFT project, I encountered many pages written in different languages, which I needed to translate to understand the information and apply them to my work. This aspect made Chrome the most appropriate search engine for my resources search.
Google Chrome has been my preferred browser due to the ease of use facilitated by filters and search results customization. Google Search, an in-built function of Google Chrome, allows users to narrow their search outcomes by date, region, and website type for more relevant and relevant results. Security on the web has become a critical factor due to increasing phishing and hacking attempts. Google Chrome has a function called “Safe Browsing” that can alert users if they are about to visit a website that could harm their computer or breach their data.
(Ok & Rao, 2019). This is a more secure research tool for a VFT because it prevents malware attacks. Overall, Google Chrome enabled me to undertake my research safely, securely, and conveniently, making it the best browser.
Three Useful Websites and their Benefits
IXL.com
IXL.com is the first website that provided useful in my VFT search. This site provides interactive, adaptive, and personalized learning activities and exercises across various academic disciplines, such as math, language arts, science, and social studies (IXL Learning, n.d.). As it contains a wealth of instructional content that can augment and complement what people learn during a VFT, this website is a valuable resource. When researching for a VFT, IXL.com offered some fun and educational exercises that helped me to retain what I learned. Multiple-choice questions, visuals, and drag-and-drop exercises are some ways in which learners can interact with and learn from the content presented on this website.
IXL.com also aided in the hunt for suitable VFTs due to the individualized instruction it offers. The website adjusts the difficulty of the questions and activities based on the student’s performance, allowing them to concentrate on the areas where they feel they need the most help (IXL Learning, n.d.). This site’s comprehensive performance reports enable individuals to track their knowledge development, focus on problem areas, and personalize their lessons. In addition, the variety of themes and subjects available on IXL.com can significantly improve the quality of a VFT search. If the virtual field trip focuses on a certain period of history, students can utilize IXL.com to learn more about related subjects. This element was particularly beneficial to me since I could relate my VFT with other disciplines, such as sciences and social studies, providing a comprehensive view of the trip and associated resources.
Mathnation.com
Although I often used Mathnation.com in my classwork mathematical activities, this site proved beneficial in searching for VFT resources. Mathnation.com is an ideal place to begin exploring a VFT because it has various interactive tools tied to the curriculum and may help learners connect observations in the trip to arithmetic in an enjoyable way (Mathnation, n.d). I took advantage of the site’s customization options and pedagogical materials to develop interesting and relevant plans and expectations for the VFT.
One of the benefits of Mathnation.com’s content and materials is in alignment with most schools’ curriculum guides because they are integrated with the public education state standards. This makes it a valuable tool for teachers and learners organizing a curriculum-based virtual field trip. The website features practice problems and exams designed to assist students in strengthening their mathematical abilities (Mathnation, n.d). Students with difficulty in mathematics may find the website’s opportunities to practice and reinforce relevant skills quite helpful. This aspect was instrumental in my preparation for the VFT as it enabled me to improve my data recording and analysis skills regarding mathematical implications. The site’s interactive math courses and games add a new dimension to learning. This is crucial for a VFT as it may keep students interested and enthusiastic about studying from afar. Lastly, Mathnation.com’s adaptive learning tools enable learners to have their learning experiences shaped to their specific strengths and shortcomings.
Mathispower4u.com
Mathispower4u.com is the third website that facilitated my research. This site provides an excellent opportunity for a math-oriented VFT (Mathispower4u, n.d.). Students can use the site’s video lessons, tests, and practice tasks to better understand key mathematical topics and prepare for the next field trip. The website’s organization into various mathematical topics enabled me to narrow down specific interest areas, preparing me for the VFT presentation. I was particularly interested in geometry and could easily access the relevant content from this site.
The availability of video lessons and worksheets is a significantly beneficial feature in the VFT search. This aspect enables one to learn from visual resources, relate better to the content, and use the worksheets to organize information more appropriately. In my case, I found the videos crucial for understanding the application of geometrical concepts in real-life field analysis. I prepared my expected outcomes on the worksheets and was able to track my progress and knowledge gained through the VFT project.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google Chrome is my browser of choice as it provides various add-ons, features, and adaptability options that make it easier to use than other browsers. The ease with which one can filter search results and customize sites to gather the desired information makes it ideal for a VFT resources search. The three websites, IXL.com, Mathnation.com, and Mathispower4u.com, were essential in my research as they enabled me to prepare well for the trip and evaluate my outcomes more appropriately.
References
IXL Learning. (n.d.). IXL Learning. Web.
Mathispower4u. (n.d.). mathispower4u. Web.
Mathnation. (n.d). Math Nation. Web.
Ok, M. W., & Rao, K. (2019). Digital tools for the inclusive classroom: Google Chrome as assistive and instructional technology. Journal of Special Education Technology, 34(3), 204-211. Web.