Sharing Practice - Virtual Field Trips

Danielle Hinchcliffe in the school of Biological and Environment Sciences has generously agreed to share her experience of putting together and running virtual field trips. This is a fascinating digital development and something that has the potential to benefit many fieldwork reliant disciplines, particularly in relation to inclusivity and sustainability.

A summary of the project from Danni is offered below :

“LJMU is committed to sustainability and addressing the climate crisis, with a goal of achieving net carbon zero by 2035. Teaching and research are central themes to this mission, and with the rapid advancement of digital technologies following the Covid-19 pandemic, we must explore the potential of innovative tools like virtual environments (VEs). VEs can enhance environmental science education, particularly for fieldwork, a vital yet often inaccessible component. While not a replacement for traditional fieldwork, VEs can make learning more inclusive and reduce the carbon footprint.
 
To explore this potential, we developed an experiential learning module for Level 5 BSc Wildlife Conservation and Zoology students. Using remote sensing biodiversity data collected from a local woodland, a VE was simulated for students to explore in a lab setting and conduct a bird point-count survey, identifying birds observed along a fixed transect. Students performed the same survey onsite, allowing direct comparison of their performance in the two environments, to determine whether both formats met the intended learning outcomes. Results show that VEs can effectively teach practical ecology skills highly desired by wildlife conservation graduate employers. Additionally, students were surveyed on their attitudes towards VEs and experience with this innovative approach. It is clear that students benefit from, and want in-person fieldwork, but they value VEs as a supplementary learning tool and recognise their contribution to sustainable and flexible learning. From these insights, we must consider the broader integration of VEs across fieldwork-based programmes to better foster inclusivity, enhance engagement and support the Climate Action plan."
 
Danni has also very kindly put together a comprehensive guide on the why and how of developing a virtual fieldtrip. If you would like to learn even more about Danni’s approach or are interested in developing your own virtual field-work projects feel free to drop an email to Danni as she would be keen to get involved in similar projects in the future.