If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? When asked this question, CPA students excitedly named destinations like the Taj Mahal, the Amazon rainforest, Machu Picchu, and Yosemite National Park. With the help of Google Expeditions, they travelled everywhere!
A new virtual reality product from Google for Education, Google Expeditions provides an immersive experience for students, transporting them to scenes all over the world. Created with a collection of 360° photo spheres, 3D imaging, and video, expeditions allow for real-time exploration and observation. Students can stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower, at the base of El Capitan, or even look at the Great Barrier Reef from space.
With partners like the American Museum of Natural History, the Planetary Society, and David Attenborough’s production company Alchemy Virtual Reality, expeditions are infused with custom educational content for each virtual tour. Built for the classroom, the program is designed for teachers to lead students through a virtual field trip, selecting the content they’re viewing and pointing out specific points of interest along the way. This tool can be used to supplement lessons in biology, history, literature, geography, etc. It’s powered by any smart surface device with a Wi-Fi connection, and casted through virtual reality viewers framed in cardboard.
Because the app is not on the market yet, Google Expeditions teamed up with CPA students to beta test the product. After experiencing several expeditions, students offered their feedback for improvement or enhancement. Google for Education hopes to launch the app in the next few years. Technology Integrationist Patrick Jordan spearheaded the partnership, coordinating the opportunity for students to be a part of this unique beta test.
“It’s neat to see the kids light up when they look through the viewer and fun to watch them experience it together. Google Expeditions shares a core principal with CPA in that they key in on the shared experience. Classes travel and discover together,” explains Jordan.
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