Virtual Tours

History

Virtual tourists in earlier times sometimes were called armchair travelers. Armchair travel has always been viewed as broadly educational, whether informally for the general public or in schools. Travel descriptions are a starting point in the evolution of virtual tours. Travel literature dates at least to the second century, when the Greek geographer Pausanias wrote a 10-volume Description of Greece. Over the centuries, travel writing came to be supplemented with illustrations and, since the mid-19th century, with photographs. Sound and moving images were added in the 20th century.

With the advent of computers and the Internet, vicarious travel options further expanded through interactive multimedia. Unlike armchair travelers, today’s virtual tourists influence their experiences by choosing which tour components to access and in what sequence. Virtual tours also may include collateral material, such as maps, study guides, quizzes, text references, and links to related websites.

[Page 819]Internet-enabled experiences allow virtual travelers to explore distant lands and historical sites, to tour museums and laboratories, and to visit other destinations. Persons who plan to relocate can view prospective homes, and travelers can choose hotel rooms through virtual tours. Various forms of the virtual tour serve users from the commercially minded to the culturally curious.

Educational Uses

Virtual tours can enhance teaching and learning, whether as part of the standard curriculum or to supplement or enrich instruction. In classrooms where tablet computers are used in place of textbooks, for example, virtual tours may be a primary component of the learning design. In other classrooms, they may expand the scope of the curriculum or provide enrichment similar to actual field trips.

Virtual tours require Internet connectivity. Most can be accessed through various devices—desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Individual students, small groups, or whole classes can access tours synchronously or asynchronously. With appropriate electronic interconnection, students in one place and counterparts elsewhere can tour together, whether they are within the same school, across town from each another, or on opposite sides of the globe. This capacity makes virtual tours a versatile instructional tool and may be especially helpful in classrooms where students bring their own devices. Teachers also can conduct tours for large-group engagement by using an interactive whiteboard. Additionally, computer-mediated accommodations for students with physical or mental challenges can be built into virtual tours using built-in device capabilities.

Virtual tours can be found online for students from elementary to university age. Many tours are constructed for general use but can be adapted to a variety of learning designs. Others are specifically made to supplement classroom instruction, often across multiple disciplines. Following are examples of four types of virtual tours.

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