Let’s Go On An Adventure with Google Expeditions!
Imagine taking your students on a field trip to visit the North Pole, Machu Picchu, or even the Colosseum in Rome! With Google Expeditions that is now completely possible. Google Expeditions is a tool you can use to take students on virtual reality field trips to amazing places all over the world. There are even expeditions to Outer Space! Students use a mobile device inside of a viewer headset to visit places outside of four walls of a classroom.
3 – 2 – 1 – Blast Off!
Last month, students at my school used Google Expeditions to view the Solar System. We had so much fun! Here are some helpful tips from that experience.
1. Do your research before starting
There are nearly 1,000 Google Expeditions out there! Check out this amazing list of available Google Expeditions. Listed are the names of expeditions, locations they visit, and a short description of what you might see. The list is divided into two groups; VR and AR expeditions to help you better decide which expedition works for you.
2. Prepare yourself and your class for the chaos
Students were VERY EXCITED. Can you blame them? I was excited too. Before you start your expedition you might want to go over a few ground rules. Since students will be viewing through a headset, it’s important that students are seated the whole time. With that being said, you might want to spread students out a little in your classroom. I noticed that my students had a hard time looking around with the viewers on without having to stand up. Their desk simply got in the way. Some of my students also experienced dizziness so you will probably want to have students get up slowly when they are finished.
3. Have fun!
With all that excitement happening in my classroom, it was hard to think. At first, I was so focused on making sure the expedition went well that I forgot about how much fun we were supposed to be having. I had to take a moment and look around the room and see what was going on. They LOVED the expedition. It brought a smile to my face to hear students get excited about their own learning. If possible practice setting up the expedition before trying it with students. The more comfortable you are with navigating before you start, the more you will be able to enjoy the expedition with your class.
4. How to get started
Google Expeditions will be available soon through OMSD’s new Mobile Maker Tech Tubs. You can find all of the tech tubs by visiting the OMSD Mobile Maker Tech Tubs website found here: https://sites.google.com/omsd.net/omsdedtech/home/mobile-maker-tech-tubs?authuser=0
For my school site, my principal checked out the tub for 1 week. During that week teachers were able to sign up for a time to participate. The Google Expeditions cart will be checked out by school site so check with your administrator to see when your school site is getting the cart. I hope you enjoy exploring!
Learning and teaching with grace,
Alina
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