Google Expeditions Aims to Enliven Education

(ROCKWALL, TX—May 6, 2016) Field trips are a great way to bring kids into the worlds they hear about in the classrooms. However, sometimes field trips aren’t as accessible as school districts would like, such as; learning about Aztec ruins in Mexico or about Verona where Shakespeare’s play transpires.

As part of a pilot project for a new Google virtual field trip system for schools, Rockwall ISD will try out virtual—reality viewers through Google Expeditions.

Expeditions is a new product that allows teachers to take their classes on virtual field trips, immersing students in experiences that bring abstract concepts to life and giving students a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom.

Rockwall ISD will receive everything that is needed to travel: a tablet for the teacher and cardboard viewers and phones for every student. Then, our teachers will select a destination and the entire classroom will jump to the destination automatically.

These trips are collections of virtual reality panoramas—360 photo spheres, 3D images and video, ambient sounds—annotated with details, points of interest, and questions that make them easy to integrate into the curriculum already used in schools.

Google Expeditions Pioneer Program will visit Cain Middle School on Thursday, May 5^th where 7^th grade students will attend a 30 minute expedition focused on their science curriculum learning about plant and animal adaptations.

Dobbs Elementary School will also experience the virtual reality field trip on Monday, May 23^rd. Second to 6^th grade students will participate in a 30 minute expedition focused on science curriculum as well.

The Wildlife Conservation Society, PBS, the American Museum of Natural History, the Planetary Society, and the Palace of Versailles contributed to developing the curriculum for students.

While nothing replaces hopping on the bus for a field trip, Expeditions provide an unparalleled opportunity for supplemental learning.

Submitted by Alyssa Suniga, Rockwall ISD Communications Coordinator.

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