PROTOCOL: Mixed-methods systematic review to determine the effectiveness of museums using virtual field trips for STEM education

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, many formal and informal educational institutions, such as schools and museums, have closed or else been forced to alter their pedagogical techniques. To keep students actively engaged in specific topics, museums are incorporating virtual field trips (VFTs) for schools to utilize. The goal of this review is to determine what impact VFTs have on school-aged audiences, to recognize the factors that contribute to successful VFTs, and to evaluate evidence that VFTs can assist all communities and schools that do not have access to informal education. This protocol describes the justification and the process researchers will use to develop a systematic review of VFTs.