Although COVID-19 has been a damper in many organizations, it has not stopped the McKeon Group’s summer interns from making the best of their virtual learning tours. During the Summer of 2020, four students have participated in a unique Tele-Internship program, overseen by John Chwat and Kim Cox, in which they attend Congressional hearings, government seminars and think tank presentations and do research and have Hill interactions all in a virtual setting.
To enhance this experience, we coordinated a virtual tour of locations our interns usually visit during their stay with the McKeon Group. These included the US Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA, the Pentagon and the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Experiencing virtual tour opportunities, interns meet the challenges of thinking outside of the box, leaving footprints for future interns to follow.
Eleanor Duncan, a McKeon intern who attends Brigham Young University, said, "Taking time to virtually tour important American monuments and museums made for an enjoyable morning of work! It was a very different and unique experience than touring in-person. Admittedly, I am sometimes the worst at taking my time when walking through museums or exploring monuments. I tend to walk through very quickly, and I sometimes forget to take the time to read about the exhibits or meaning behind monuments. I enjoyed the narration in the National Museum of Marine Corps; it was simple, informative, and moving. I gained a new appreciation for the history of the Marine Corps through the beautifully constructed Museum and monuments within. The Legacy Walk was a unique way to display the parallels between this nation's events and Marine events. It is a clear way to show that the preservation of freedom is interwoven with national and global events". Mitchell Bertonneau, another Brigham Young University student said, "This has created a great opportunity to grow for me, taking skills that will significantly benefit me in the long run.”
Virtual tours show the full picture of un-missed things
Besides visiting the location itself, to gain insight, you can highlight the exhibits in full details in connection with your tours. Virtual tours could include areas that are typically missed during the building tour, such as in-depth details and history about the exhibit itself. It allows for visualization of the space, better than individual photos or videos could. Photos and videos, of course, can still be integrated into the tour as secondary findings. The tour itself, in all its 3D and virtual reality glory, offers a more narrative, linear opportunity to appreciate the details.
Grace Dean, a McKeon intern who attends Notre Dame said, "My favorite part of our virtual tour was exploring the Library of Congress. While navigating the plethora of rooms, I thought about how many pieces of artwork depicted themes and values that guide the American Government today. In a sense, art added as much meaning to the Library of Congress as the books themselves. Murals, statues, and paintings served as a cultural crossroads reflecting America's robust history and unique place in the world. Learning about the location of historical books with intricate art collections made me even more in awe of the wealth of knowledge our nation presents. I'm so glad for the opportunity to explore different DC landmarks--albeit virtually--alongside my fellow McKeon Group research assistants".
Virtual tours are immensely flexible. They allow for both approximations and enhancement of in-person events. Whether you use them to replace your field trip online or to replace group projects altogether, they can accommodate either. Of course, the experience won't be identical to the entirely in-person events that were the norm before the current pandemic hit. But through careful planning, virtual tours can still achieve great experiences and learnings.
Meanwhile, after talking and gatherings the opinions of the Research Assistants, all agreed that nothing beats visiting these locations in person; however, virtual tours are more than just shine. Done right, they're accurate representations of the venue in every way and that comes down to the measurable indicators. Gabriella Bettino, a McKeon Intern who attends Carnegie Mellon University, said, "I enjoyed the Marine Corps Museum. My grandfather and my cousin are both Marines, so this branch holds a special place in my heart. I've always known how effective they are and the great work they've done during various military campaigns throughout history. Still, the exhibits in the Museum helped solidify my mind in their role throughout American Military History. Next time I am in Northern Virginia visiting my family, and the Museum is open, I am adding a visit to my to-do list! I think that the ability to visit virtually is impressive.”