Frequently Asked Questions about Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips

Questions About Electronic Field Trips (EFTs)

What is an Electronic Field Trip (EFT)?
How do I use an EFT in my classroom?
What is the grade level for EFTs?
How much does an EFT cost?
How do I subscribe to EFTs?
How do I register for EFTs?
Are the EFTs closed captioned?
When can I access the program?
If my class can’t watch the EFT on broadcast day, will I still be able to use it?
What equipment do I need to participate in an EFT on broadcast day?
How can my students participate in the broadcast?
I saw students asking video questions. How can my students do that?
I saw students talking to you via live video chat. How can my students do that?
Help! I can’t find my registration code!
What is the Numbers to Remember sheet and where can I find it?
I forgot to record the broadcast. May I order a DVD and have it sent to me?
Will I automatically receive a DVD of the program?
May we record the broadcast?
I purchased an EFT. Can I share it with other teachers?
What is the Licensing Agreement?
What is the copyright policy for EFTs?
What is Colonial Williamsburg's privacy policy?

Do you have a problem that is not listed here? Ask us and we’ll be glad to help!
You can reach us by phone at 1-800-761-8331 or by email at EFTSupport@cwf.org.

What is an Electronic Field Trip (EFT)?
An EFT is an interactive multimedia educational program that focuses on themes and stories drawn from American history. It includes a live television broadcast (also available online via live video streaming) and a companion website with student activities and teacher resources for use in the classroom. Each of the components of an EFT can be used alone or together, allowing you to customize the experience for your classroom. Our award-winning EFTs are available 24/7 throughout the school year.

How do I use an EFT in my classroom?
For a quick guide on how to use EFTs with your students, please visit our How to Use page. For a more in-depth description, participate in the Tutorial in the Teacher Resources section of any Electronic Field Trip.

What is the grade level for EFTs?
In most cases, teachers use EFTs in grades 4-8. See Standards Correlations. However, because the live broadcasts are closed captioned and scripts are also available for the video segments, teachers in high school and postsecondary school settings use EFTs for English Language Learning classes.

How much does an EFT cost?
Subscriptions for the complete season of seven broadcasts cost $500 per school; individual programs are $120 per school.

How do I subscribe to EFTs?
We recommend subscribing online. You may also subscribe by calling us at 1-800-761-8331. If you choose the purchase order or check option, please note that your subscription will be activated when your payment is received.

How do I register for EFTs?
Go to: http://efts.history.org/

Click on "Create Account" and follow the instructions to create your own login. You will enter your email address, create your own password, confirm your password, and enter your Field Trip Registration Code (as given to you via your subscription confirmation email).

Fill out all remaining fields, then click on the "Create new account" button at the bottom of the page.

Are the EFTs closed captioned?
Yes. All live broadcasts and the archived video segments on the website are closed captioned. The live video streams online are only captioned when streaming with Windows Media Player. For more information on how to watch a closed captioned version of the archived video segments, click here.

When can I access the program?
All seven EFT websites with video, lesson plans, and student activites are available 24/7 for the entire school year in which they are broadcast!

If my class can’t watch the EFT on broadcast day, will I still be able to use it?
Yes. You may record a copy of the live broadcast to add to your school's library. You can access the video acts online at any time during the school year by going to "Watch Video Now" on the EFT website. Other online resources for teachers and students, including video previews, teacher's guide, online vote, and message board, are also available for the entire school year.

What equipment do I need to participate in an EFT on broadcast day?

1. TV – for watching the live broadcast. You will also need to check for a broadcaster in your area.
2. Computer with Internet connection – for student use of email, message board, and online voting.
   If you do not have a broadcaster, you can use your computer and a projector or interactive whiteboard to view the broadcast using video streaming.Learn more about computer requirements.
3. Phone – for students to call in their questions.

How can my students participate in the broadcast?
Your students may participate in several ways. Any time during the school year, they can post questions on the message board or take part in the online voting. Prior to the broadcast, they can submit a video question. During the week of the broadcast, they can email a historical figure through each EFT's website. On broadcast day, they can phone in questions during the broadcast and for one hour afterward. They could also participate in the live broadcast via live video chat (Skype).

I saw students asking video questions. How can my students do that?
We encourage students to send video questions to us for possible inclusion on the show. The guidlines for submission can be found on the FAQ: Skype and Submitting Video Questions page. For more information, please contact us at 1-800-761-8331 or EFTSupport@cwf.org.

I saw students talking to you via live video chat. How can my students do that?
This season, in addition to sending video questions, schools are invited to participate in a live video chat using Skype during each broadcast. We look forward to students sharing their creativity by presenting short essays, demonstrating how they used one of our lesson plans, or showing off their program-related projects. Contact Associate Producer Leslie Doiron at ldoiron@cwf.org or (757) 565-8432 if you have questions about how to participate in our live video chat.

Help! I can’t find my registration code!
If you registered for the EFT series, your registration code will be sent to you via email in early September. Registration code reminders for individual programs are sent out a week or two before each broadcast. If you need additional help getting your registration code, please contact us at 1-800-761-8331 or EFTSupport@cwf.org.

What is the Numbers to Remember sheet and where can I find it?
The Numbers to Remember sheet is a PDF document for each EFT that lists the 1-800 number to phone in questions during the broadcast and a synopsis of the program. You can access the Numbers to Remember sheet PDF on the website for that program. It can be found under the How to Use tab of each EFT site.

I forgot to record the broadcast. May I order a DVD and have it sent to me?
Yes. A DVD of the broadcast may be ordered at a cost of $19.95 plus shipping. To order, please call our customer service line at 1-800-761-8331 or email us at EFTSupport@cwf.org. If you are using a purchase order, please fax it to 757-565-8044.

Will I automatically receive a DVD of the program?
No. DVDs are available for purchase at $19.95 each plus shipping. To order, please call our customer service line at 1-800-761-8331 or email us at EFTSupport@cwf.org.

May we record the broadcast?
If you have registered for Colonial Williamsburg EFTs, then you are licensed to record one copy of the broadcast for your library for educational use, and one copy for archival purposes.

I purchased an EFT. Can I share it with other teachers?
EFTs have a site license, which means that anyone at your physical location can use the same subscription. You may share EFTs with anyone at YOUR school.

What is the Licensing Agreement?
The purchasing school agrees to the following conditions:

1. The school may make one copy of the program for educational use within the school, and one copy for archival purposes. If you cannot make a duplicate, please contact us to order a DVD for $19.95.
2. The school may not duplicate, sell, rent, or part with possession of the recorded copy of the EFT.

What is the copyright policy for EFTs?
You may not edit, alter, or exhibit the recorded program unless The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has granted you permission to do so. In all instances, the complete copyright notice and EFT credits must remain a part of the recorded program. This policy applies to all schools, homes, and individuals who may be registered.

What is Colonial Williamsburg's privacy policy?
For a complete statement of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s privacy policy, click here.