NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contact: Marie Profant
mprofant@visualtraveltours.com
805-705-9179

GIFT TO TEACHERS- A NEW WAY TO ENGAGE STUDENTS USING TOURS OF THE WORLD ON MOBILE DEVICES

Virtual Field Trips Immerse Students in History

SANTA BARBARA, CA – September 9, 2011 – VisualTravelTours (VTT) is now offering teachers free guided tours as Back-To-School gifts, demonstrating how education via new media can quickly and easily engage students. As educators transition from e-learning to m-learning, incorporating new media and visual experiences into curriculum produces a high level of student engagement.

Michelle Magnusson, of the Santa Barbara County Education Office, is excited by the idea. “Do you wish you could take your students on a field trip but don’t have the time or money? Bring the field trip to you through an innovative new tool for classrooms! Visual Travel Tours can provide your students with a multimedia adventure through a wide variety of locations and historical topics.” For example, pupils can experience: • Ancient Egypt - a tour of the Pyramids and the Sphinx • Medieval history - Dublin or Barcelona • Ancient Japan - Osaka • California’s mining history • California missions - La Purisima • Immigration at Angel Island • National Parks • Colonial Williamsburg • a wide variety of destinations across the globe.

In a 2010 pilot program, VTT representatives scheduled visits to schools to share multimedia travel tours highlighting historical events. The students first explored a local route, learning about “their own backyard” and then each one selected a foreign location and shared some intriguing facts with the class.They used the school computer lab, and available mobile devices. Their enthusiasm has inspired VTT to take the program nationwide.

For a limited time, any teacher can obtain a Promo Code for a free download by contacting mprofant@visualtraveltours.com, with the title of the tour they’d like, and a brief description of how it will be used in their classroom. VTT is interested in hearing about the creative ways these tours will be integrated into lesson plans, i.e. "Piazza San Pietro: Where Roman Histories Converge" for 7th graders studying Roman History.

For Teachers: How do you become "outstanding" in your student's memories? "Use your imagination to capture theirs. If you remember a favorite teacher, you remember what was inspirational about them: it was the way they got their ideas across. That's why I’m so excited about seeing these tours on cell phones. The kids are fascinated by electronic devices – they will take to the tours immediately and history will come alive." - Retired Teacher, California

"These tours will open a child's eyes to the world. It’s like  magic!" - Retired Teacher, Delaware