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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 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?
Help! I can’t find my user ID and password!
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 e-mail 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, a companion Web site 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 tutorial on how to use EFTs with your students, please visit our "How to Use" tutorial.

What is the grade level for EFTs?
In most cases, teachers use EFTs in grades 4-8. See Standards Correlations (link this). However, because the live broadcasts are close-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?
Registration for a complete season of seven broadcasts costs $500 per school. Registrations for an individual program is $120.

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

Are the EFTs close-captioned?
Yes, the live broadcasts are close-captioned but the video segments on the Web site are not.

When can I access the program?
All seven EFT Web sites are available 24/7 for the entire school year in which they are broadcast! The video portions of the program are stored online for your use any time during the year.

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. The e-mail link is active only during the week of the broadcast and the live Q&A segment is available only during the live broadcast. All other online resources for teachers and students, including video previews, teacher's guide, online vote, and message board, are 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 e-mail, message board, and online voting.
    If you do not have a broadcaster, you can use your computer 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. During the week of the broadcast, they can e-mail a historical figure through each EFT's Web site. On broadcast day, they can phone in questions during the broadcast and for one hour afterward.

I saw students asking video questions. How can my students do that?
At this time, we are airing video questions from students on a trial basis as a way to determine their effectiveness and to work out technical issues. If you are interested in sending us student video questions, please contact us at 1-800-761-8331 or EFTSupport@cwf.org.

Help! I can’t find my user ID and password!
If you registered for the EFT series, your series ID and password will be sent to you via e-mail in early September. ID and password reminders for individual programs are sent out a week or two before each broadcast. If you need additional help getting your user ID and password, 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, the user ID and password for the program Web site, and a synopsis of the program. You can access the Numbers to Remember sheet PDF on the Web site for that program. It can be found under "Downloadable Resources" on the "Teacher Resources" page.

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 $9.75, which includes shipping. To order, please call our customer service line at 1-800-761-8331 or e-mail 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 $9.75 each to cover our duplication and shipping costs. To order, please call our customer service line at 1-800-761-8331 or e-mail 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.

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 $9.75.)
  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 taped 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 videotaped 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.