Evaluating Differences in Landscape Interpretation between Webcam and Field-Based Experiences

Field trips have become less common due to issues including budget constraints and large class sizes. Research suggests that virtual field trips can substitute for field visits, but the role of webcams has not been evaluated. To investigate the potential for webcams to substitute for field trips, participants viewed urban and physical landscapes either in-person or by webcam. Differences in landscape interpretation responses between webcam viewers and field trip participants were often statistically insignificant, suggesting that webcams hold potential as substitutes for field trips. However, upon reflection, field trip participants valued their experience, while webcam participants had mixed views. (Contains 5 tables, 4 figures, and 1 note.)