Virtual Tour Of The Holy Land For Schools
 What
if teachers could assign a reporter to tour the Holy Land and write
about it for students?
Marc Hequet, a veteran journalist who writes for the Virtual Dig,
wants to offer such a virtual trip for schools.
Marc would journey the Holy Land, interviewing Israeli and
Palestinian children, teachers, families and community leaders.
For schools and others following the tour, he would offer stories and
photos depicting the history, people and current events of each place he
visits.
He would welcome questions and comments from teachers, students and
families, and may even work that material into subsequent stories on the
tour.
Such an interactive tour could be an extraordinary learning
experience. Students' grasp of history and current events would take on
the color of first-person experience. Dates would have a location and a
human story.
Marc was part of the Virtual Dig at this site in September 2004. He
wrote three or four pieces daily and posted audio interviews as well for
about 1,000 students who were following the excavation of the ancient
city of Hippos.
At Hippos, archaeologists have exposed a Hellenistic compound, a
Roman forum and three Byzantine churches. Dull stuff? No! Among
participating teachers, 86% reported their students remembered dig
facts, 63% said class discussions about the dig needed little prompting,
and 59% overheard students in "substantive conversations" about the dig
with other students. Families were enthusiastic. And 95 percent of the
teachers responding to our evaluation would participate again.
Who pays for Marc's virtual tour? We're not sure yet. Do you know a
foundation or corporation that may be interested? Or could schools
afford $100 each?
Nothing is carved in stone yet. Guidance is welcome from teachers and
others on how to make the virtual tour a terrific learning experience.
Some examples of Marc's writing for middle-school learners are
archived at the Virtual Dig site:
http://www.virtualdig.org/modules/dailydig/0920.asp "Rocky and
Shukhar" is about a boy and his horse, a dead city — and currency
exchange rates.
http://www.virtualdig.org/modules/dailydig/0927.asp "Showing the Way
in Jerusalem" describes a pastor trying to help Palestinians — and the
complexity of Mideast politics.
Contact Marc at
mhequet@sprintmail.com if you and your school would like to
participate in a virtual tour of the Holy Land. |
