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Virtual Field Trips Open Doors for Multimedia Lessons

Electronic visits grow as schools cut back on off-campus excursions

When Scott Mandel visited the British Museum last summer, he knew the displays of Egyptian mummies and treasures would captivate students in his ancient-civilizations class at Pacoima Middle School in Los Angeles. The exhibit inspired the veteran teacher to plan a trip to the museum for his students. This time, however, he never had to leave the classroom.

By tapping in to the museum’s interactive Web galleries and video tours, Mr. Mandel gave his students a close-up view of the vast collection of artifacts, and even allowed them to play a version of a game enjoyed by children in North Africa more than 2,000 years ago.

“I can’t take my students to London, as much as I’d love to,” said Mr. Mandel, the creator of TeachersHelpingTeachers , a Web site that advises teachers on how to find and use quality curriculum materials on the Internet. “A virtual field trip can take you anywhere at any time, whether it’s back in the past,” or into outer...