How the Program Works
The Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips are broadcast on OETA monthly, October through April, presenting a different aspect of colonial life with each broadcast. Any school with classroom television viewing capability can access the programs. The 2011-12 schedule can be found on the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Web site at www.ofe.org/fieldtrips. To give students the opportunity to participate with each broadcast in an interactive manner—speaking directly with costumed historical characters and modern-day historians—typically requires an annual subscription of $500. However, through its program, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence provides the full annual subscription at no cost to schools.
In addition to accessing the interactive aspect of the broadcasts, participants receive access to an interactive website, where students can explore a variety of learning activities at school and at home. These sites take the students directly into the colonial Williamsburg Capitol, where they can step into the shoes of any number of early American players, from tobacco farmers to political figures. Through the website, students can post opinions on issues discussed during the live broadcasts, from slavery to taxation. Teachers say the most exciting component is the opportunity for students to interact with historians and historical character interpreters during the live call-in portion of the broadcast, the one-hour post broadcast call-in, and through online forums.
Participating schools will receive the user ID and passwords via e-mail, which will allow access to each field trip website. From there, they can download PDFs for the Teacher Guide, Tips for Teachers and Numbers to Remember. The Teacher Guide includes a historical background, facsimiles of primary sources, images of historic sites, glossaries, timelines and complete lesson plans written by master classroom teachers.