For some parents, their child's next field trip might not require the dreaded permission slip. 

More and more teachers are now taking their students on virtual field trips, said ABC News. With programs like Skype in the Classroom, teachers can take students all over the world--visiting museums, monuments, key locations, and historical places. Last year, 25,000 teachers became active members of Skype in the Classroom, a 30 percent increase from last year.

Gina Felton, a fifth grade teacher from Mondamin, Iowa, said that taking her students on virtual field trips is her only option for excursions. Since becoming a Skype in the Classroom member, Felton's students have played "Mystery Skype" with over 100 classes. Mystery Skype is a geography game that links two geographically distant classrooms. The students learn by asking the distant students questions about culture, climate and customs and ultimately guessing where the other class is located.

"My kids used to think they had nothing special or interesting to offer," said Felton in the article, "but they have learned through meeting other students that they are unique and they have experiences others are interested in learning about, even from Mondamin, Iowa where the closest grocery store is one hour away. They are proud of our uniqueness and walk a little taller now.”

On Skype in the Classroom, classrooms can explore over 9,300 lessons including teacher to teacher classroom collaboration, guest speakers, and virtual field trips. 

Read the full story. 

Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor

If you could offer your students a virtual field trip tomorrow, where would you take them? Share in the comments.