14 Benefits of Virtual Field Trips Every Educator Should Know [2025]

I’ve worked with teachers long enough to know that field trips sound exciting, but often turn into a headache. The cost, permission slips, and logistics leave you exhausted before the trip even begins.

That’s when I started noticing how schools use virtual field trips as an alternative.

A study with biology students even showed 80% felt more engaged and positive about learning through virtual trips.

I know you don’t just want theory, you want something that saves time and actually works in class. From my experience, virtual field trips do both when used the right way.

So let’s jump into the virtual field trips, real benefits, and see how they can make your lessons easier, more interactive, and a lot less stressful.

So let’s get started,

TL;DR – Key Benefits of Virtual Field Trips

• Virtual field trips let students explore places and experts online using videos, 360° images, or VR.
• They make classes more engaging, easier to access, and budget-friendly.
• ​ A University of São Paulo study shows VR trips improve skills-based learning.
• 14 benefits divided by these 3 categories:
  • Learning: Improve how students see their own learning, support K–12 lessons, and connect with experts.
  • Engagement: Fun, interactive, works for all learning styles, and keeps students more focused.
  • Accessibility: Great for students with mobility issues, health limits, or remote learners.
  • Collaboration: Share resources with other teachers and connect across locations.
  • Financial: Save money and time compared to physical trips.
• You can easily build your virtual field trips with WPVR

What are Virtual Field Trips?

Virtual field trips let students explore places they might never visit in real life, right from the classroom. Using videos, maps, live streams, or VR, you can take them anywhere in the world.

For example, in a history class, you could give a virtual tour of the pyramids in Egypt. Students can view carvings, explore chambers, and hear expert insights without leaving their seats.

It makes their learning fun, interactive, and stress-free while saving time, cost, and travel.

How do Virtual Field Trips Work?

Setting up a virtual field trip is simple. You only need a device with internet access and a reliable platform. Here’s how it works:

• Choose a topic: Pick what you want to explore, like social studies sites, a recycling center, or even coral reefs, to spark children’s curiosity.
• Select a platform: Use Google Arts, National Geographic, or Access Mars for life science or geography curricula through virtual field trips.
• Prepare your students: Provide a companion guide, guiding questions, or student-centered videos so they can stay focused and engaged.
• Experience the trip: Allow elementary school students to enjoy room-by-room tours, explore marvels from ancient civilization curricula, or watch wildlife through live webcams.
• Discuss and review: Turn learning activities into lesson plans or interactive student activities, making you one of your students’ favorite teachers.

With these simple steps, you can turn any lesson into an immersive learning experience without the hassle of planning a physical trip.

Why Should Educators Use Virtual Field Trips in The Classroom?

Field trips have always been a strong way to make learning hands-on and memorable. They let students explore new places, ideas, and experiences beyond the classroom walls.

Research shows how effective field trips really are for learning. In a survey, 53.78% of students strongly agreed that field trips helped boost their knowledge.

See how 94% students feel as they are rating “virtual field trips” really high

You’ll notice students learn more when they’re having fun. Using the “learn with fun” approach makes lessons easier to remember.

The neurologist Judy Willis demonstrated how enjoyable experiences increase the levels of dopamine and endorphins in our brains.

Dopamine, known as the “feel-good hormone,” can make learning feel pleasurable and rewarding. These hormones play a crucial role in effective learning.

Now I am going to going to explain the benefits of virtual field trips for students and tecahers in five categories below :

i. Learning Benefits of Virtual Field Trips

Now, let’s take a closer look at the learning advantages of field trips. I’m going to explain three key ways they help your students learn more effectively and stay engaged.

1. Self-perception of learning

​Virtual field trips boost students’ self-perception of learning by making them feel in control of their experience. They see themselves actively exploring and understanding new topics, which builds confidence.

For example, students can often pause the virtual activities or go through them at their own speed. Virtual fields can help students solve math problems by providing interactive, context-based experiences and simplifying abstract concepts into understandable, real-life situations

You can read this research paper on the learning impact of VFT to get a deeper knowledge of how impactful learning VFT can be in your classroom.

2. Helpful in K-12 education

After looking at many different research studies, scientists at the University of São Paulo found proof that virtual field trips can help teach students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

They found multiple studies where using virtual reality headsets for virtual education trips helped students learn better.

The researchers found educational VR provided significant benefits beyond just engagement. It led to improved skills-based learning outcomes as well as better knowledge recall and comprehension compared to non-VR settings.

Learn more – Virtual Reality in Education: What’s The Future?

3. Exposure to Experts

Virtual field trips let your students take a small step toward active learning. They can explore a place visually, making lessons more engaging.

Students can ask questions directly to experts who have experienced the location themselves. This interaction adds real-world insight to their learning.

By seeing, participating, and engaging, your students are far more likely to remember the topic. Experiencing the lesson makes it stick better than just reading about it.

ii. Engagement Benefits of Virtual Field Trips

I know what you are thinking- My students will only look at a screen. Where and how will engagement between your students come?

Here are your answers :

4. Interactive Learning

Virtual field trips let you make learning hands-on and engaging, so your students don’t just watch—they participate.

For example, you can guide your students through a virtual chemistry lab where they mix chemicals and see reactions safely on screen.

This keeps your students curious, involved and helps them understand concepts better by actively exploring them.

​5. Caters to Different Learning Styles

Virtual field trips let you teach in ways that match how each of your students learns best. Some learn by seeing, some by hearing, and some by doing.

For example, you can show your students a 3D tour of a historical site, let them listen to expert commentary, and give them interactive quizzes to try.

This way, you make sure every student in your class can engage with the lesson and absorb the material in the way that works for them.

6. Engage Students’ Senses More

Instead of just listening to a teacher talk, virtual trips can allow your students to see realistic visuals, hear sounds, and even interact using hand motions or controllers.

For example, on a virtual trip to the rainforest, students can see vivid 360-degree videos of the dense foliage and bright colors.

They could hear the sounds of birds squawking and monkeys howling.

7. Embodied Interaction Increases Student Engagement

Researchers found that interacting and experiencing things firsthand keeps students more engaged. This is called embodied interaction.

For example, during a virtual tour of a volcano, your students can explore lava flows, touch samples in simulations, and see the effects up close. This hands-on approach makes learning exciting.

Simply sitting and listening to a lecture can be boring, but when students actively participate, they stay involved and retain more information.

iii. Accessibility Benefits of Virtual Field Trips

Virtual field trips let you bring learning to every student. Your class can explore places and experiences they might never see in real life.

8. Students with mobility restrictions

Virtual field trips let your students take part even if moving around is hard. They can explore new places without leaving home or the classroom.

For example, one of your students who can’t travel far can still join a virtual zoo tour, see animals up close, and ask questions.

This way, you make learning inclusive and fun, so every student in your class can stay engaged and enjoy the experience.

9. Students who are immunocompromised

Virtual field trips let your students learn safely without exposure to germs or illness. They can join from home or the classroom.

For example, a student with a weak immune system can explore a museum or science lab online. They still get the full experience safely.

This keeps learning stress-free and inclusive, so every student can enjoy the trip without worrying about health risks.

10. Students can access it from anywhere

Virtual reality field trips let your students join from wherever they are, no matter their situation. All they need is a device with internet.

For example, a student at home or in the hospital can still explore a historic site or aquarium online and participate just like everyone else.

This helps you keep your class engaged and ensures fewer empty seats, so every student can be part of the learning experience.

iv. Collaboration Benefits of Virtual Field Trips

Virtual field trips help you create a sense of community and teamwork in your class. Now, let’s look at some ways to boost collaboration and get your students working together effectively:

11. Expanding Geographically

VR field trips let you and your students explore places and meet people from around the world without traveling. It makes learning feel bigger and more exciting.

For example, your students can visit a museum, historical site, or national park online, even if it’s too far or expensive to go in real life.

This way, you help your class learn about different cultures, environments, and perspectives, expanding their understanding beyond the local community.

• Learn more – How to Create a VR Museum Tour to Increase Live Visitors

12. Share And Adapt the same virtual resources

With virtual field trips, you can use the same resources for your whole class, keeping learning consistent and easy to manage.

For example, your students can share a virtual science lab or interactive map. You’ll see them collaborate, discuss ideas, and help each other learn.

This way, you help your class build teamwork skills while practicing and applying what they’ve explored together.

v. Financial Benefits of Virtual Field Trips

​Virtual field trips can save you and your students a lot of money compared to traditional trips. Now, let’s go through some ways to reduce costs while still giving a rich learning experience:

13. Cost Effectiveness

Virtual field trips save you and your students money by removing travel costs, making learning more affordable for everyone.

For example, instead of flying your class to a museum in another country, your students can explore it online and still have the full experience.

They also help reduce carbon emissions and avoid many challenges of traditional trips, like logistical, cultural, or safety issues. This makes learning both cost-effective and safer.

​14. Time-Saving

Virtual field trips save you a lot of time on planning, travel, and supervision, so you can focus more on teaching your students.

For example, instead of taking your class on a long bus ride to a science center, you can have them explore the exhibits online and still get the full experience.

This helps you cover more lessons, give your students more learning opportunities, and keep everyone engaged without wasting time.

How to Create Virtual Field Trips on Your Own

You can create a virtual field trip for your students step by step. I’ll show you how to make it engaging and easy:

• Launch Quickly: You can put together a basic virtual tour in under 5 minutes and share it directly with your students.
• Research Your Content: First, find out what topics or places your students are most interested in exploring. This helps you make the trip exciting for them.
• Capture 360° Photos or Videos: Use your camera to record the locations you want your students to visit virtually.
• Choose Virtual Tour Software: Use a tool like WPVR to turn your photos and videos into an immersive tour. It’s simple and beginner-friendly.
• Create Your Tour: Follow the software steps to assemble your virtual trip. You don’t need prior experience to make it engaging.

Note: If you need assistance, WPVR provides helpful resources like YouTube videos & documentation for setting up and using it properly.

Schlussfolgerung

​Virtual field trips give you the chance to take students anywhere without leaving the classroom. From history to life science, they open doors to places children may never see in person.

You can prepare your students with a companion guide, guiding questions, or student-centered videos. This helps 6th-grade students and elementary school students stay engaged from start to finish.

During the trip, students can explore room-by-room tours, ancient civilization curricula, or live webcams of wildlife. These experiences make social studies and geography curricula feel real and interactive.

Afterward, turn learning activities into lesson plans or discussions that help students reflect. If you want to create your own immersive tours with ease, a tool like WPVR makes it simple and effective.

** FAQs **

​1. How do I keep students engaged during a virtual field trip?

• You can keep 6th-grade students interested by adding fun activities and simple educational games. Let them ask questions or explore things on their own during the trip. This also helps you become one of your students’ favorite teachers.

2. What if my classroom has limited technology or internet?

• No worries if you don’t have VR or fast Wi-Fi. You can use video sharing links, student-centered videos, or house video tours that work on any device. This way, all students can still enjoy the trip and learn something new.

3. Can virtual field trips fit into curriculum requirements?

• Yes, they can match social studies, computer science, and geography curricula easily. You can explore topics like the American Revolution, Palau, or coral reefs with the Nature Conservancy. Each trip supports your lessons while keeping students engaged.

4. How do I make virtual trips interactive for younger students?

• Younger students love hands-on learning, so include educational games, globe activities, or simple in-person options like a local recycling center. Let them explore and interact as much as possible. This makes the lessons fun, memorable, and easier to understand.

5. Are virtual field trips only for classrooms?

• Not at all. If you’re a homeschool parent or a scout leader, you can easily use virtual trips to bring learning to life. They’re flexible, so you can explore new places and ideas with your students anytime, anywhere.