Tigers on a Google Expedition

Today our Commerce Elementary 1st and 2nd graders got the opportunity to experience the Google Expeditions Pioneer Program. This is a program in beta ("a work in progress" said one student) that Google has been developing and refining over the past year as they have traveled all over the world letting students use the product and give feedback. I signed us up for the program in the fall with fingers crossed that we would be lucky enough to be chosen, and two weeks ago I received the confirmation e-mail. As I was running around my office squealing with happiness, I had to explain it to just about everyone I passed, but excitement quickly grew! What an opportunity for our students! 

Today started early at 7:15 with a quick training for our teachers. They learned how to control the expeditions and guide the students through over 200 different trips. The teacher has the ability to guide the students with arrows that pop up in the student viewer, and guiding questions that only show on the teacher tablet. These features will make this tool a "must-have" in our schools next year! 

Once the teachers were trained, it was time for the main attraction to begin! We started with first grade and the "ooohs" and "ahhhhs" were almost deafening! While they were excited, they were very respectful of the devices and totally engaged! Our students were able to see parts of the world that they will probably never get to see in real life. I know that I will never see the base camp of Mount Everest again! 

With all of the hype surrounding the day, of course many central office staff, principals, and other teachers had to come and check out the greatness! I wish that EVERY student in Commerce ISD would have had the chance to experience the expeditions!

With our Commerce School Educational Enrichment Foundation (CSEEF) grants applications due in 2 weeks, I foresee a few teachers asking for class sets of these! I hope to be able to get a set (or 2) for each campus to share. 






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​Superintendent Blake Cooper became an explorer too!

I Periscoped a lot of the kids interacting with the Google Cardboards. They were too adorable not to share with the world! (Please excuse the video quality as Periscope is geared more towards live broadcast than anything else!)

With all of this talk about Google Expeditions and Google Cardboard, you still may be wondering about the details of this program. Here is more information about the three aspects of the Google Expedition experience:

The content
Expeditions are collections of virtual reality panoramas—360° photo spheres, 3D images and video, and ambient sounds—annotated with details, points of interest, and questions that make them easy to integrate into curriculum already used in schools. Partners like the American Museum of Natural History, the Planetary Society, David Attenborough with production company Alchemy VR, and many of the museums and other partners of the Google Cultural Institute are helping Google to create custom educational content for Expeditions.

The app
Expeditions are accessed and viewed through an app that allows a teacher to choose a trip and lead a group of students through a virtual Expedition. Teachers are able to point out specific details within the panorama, pause trips to get the class’s attention, play ambient sounds to make the experience even more immersive, and let students freely explore on their own.

The hardware
While Expeditions can be used on devices already in the classroom, they come alive with Google Cardboard. Our Expeditions kit is a collection of all the hardware needed to go on Expeditions in full virtual reality—a tablet for the guide, VR viewers for each student, a speaker to provide ambient sounds and a durable box to transport, charge, and store it all. 

And then we come to our "why"...

This friend was my favorite "explorer" of the day! She stood very still as she explored the ocean. As I was watching her, she held her little hand out to "touch" the fish. Then, she stuck one foot out to "feel" the ocean floor. This is why I am so passionate about technology in the classroom. Not only for the engagement factor or teacher productivity, but to truly impact the life of a child. You never know what this experience might mean for this student. She could be an oceanographer one day!

Oh, and this is my other favorite "explorer" of the day. Not sure where she gets her animated explanations! :)

Are you interested in bringing a Google Expedition to your campus? Sign up here! Not sure how long they are going to offer this program, but it can't hurt to ask! 

Keeping it Techy,
​Heather