4 thoughts on “Traveling the World, within the Classroom.”

1. I think this is an excellent idea and helping those in the poorer parts of countries increases their interest in learning and makes them feel like they are just like everyone else. Technology has come so far, and this is a great way to be able to see any part of the world that you want without having to leave your home or leave the classroom. This might not seem like a lot to an adult who has seen a lot of places in their lifetime, but to these kids whose families do not have the money to travel it probably means the world. I have been to a lot of places within the country, but as for outside of the country I have not been to a lot of places, so I think this is a great way to see whatever part of the world that you want before actually traveling there.

2. This is a great device for children in poorer countries. Living in a country as developed as the United States, children here have the luxury of technology that supplies a large amount of information to learn from. These virtual reality goggles give the students a unique chance to learn in a way that is fun and brand new. Because the students are having fun with the goggles, the facts that they learn are better remembered. Incorporating fun technology with learning is essential for kids in our current technology driven society. If kids can view new technological advancements as tools for learning, they will grow up with a healthy curiosity makes learning interesting.

3. I think this could be an incredible step in the process toward equalizing the education system across the country and the world. Today, we see a lot of disparities in the level of education based on where someone lives and their socioeconomic background. For a long time it has been argued that students in wealthier school districts have advantages over kids in poorer school districts. I believe this to be true based on a number of factors. The main factor is the resources available for these kids to learn. Young children in poor city schools do not always have the same resources at their disposal that kids in wealthier neighborhoods have. This can stunt growth from a young age and catching up is really tough. I think Google Expedition pilot program is a great product as well as a great deed for the world. Technology is capable of changing the lives of so many people. This is such a perfect example of how tech companies are not just interested in making the most profitable product. This type of product could change the life of a student somewhere without that student paying a dime. If school districts can invest the money to bring this product to the classroom I think the students will benefit dramatically. Think about a kid who has never left their town, or state, and all of the sudden, when they get to school, they can travel all over the world. Of course there is the internet and television for these kids to explore on their own. But, based in an educational setting, this type of learning can be extremely powerful. In some of the articles I read, the limits are still just cracking the surface. Virtual field trips are just the beginning. If teachers can implement this product into various aspects of the curriculum, students will benefit even more. A second and very important feature that is still in the works today is virtual tours of colleges. Once again, benefitting individual students who might otherwise not be able to afford the trip to visit various schools before deciding on a destination. Once again, technology is changing so rapidly that the world is just trying to keep up. I think the education system as a whole has done a decent job keeping up with the latest technology but I think this product is something that will benefit students so much that all schools should get on board! The link below is from a New York times article where I initially heard of this new Google product.

   http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/technology/google-virtual-reality-system-aims-to-enliven-education.html?_r=0

4. The Google expeditions program is an outstanding way for teachers to take their students on an amazing journey that is outside the classroom-while in the classroom. It provides them with a way to imagine an underwater exploration or a trip to the moon. Adding to your post, I think it is really cool that the devices are linked to each other so the devices can send data back to the teachers. This gives them a way to tell if the students liked the program or if it was just a waste of time or not. This is all possible through the internet of things (IOT) and the emerging technology.

   https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/

   In addition, the Google Expedition Program offers teachers a custom way to select the paths for students. If you are one of the schools that gets selected, each student will receive a pair of smartphones (basically lenses or goggles to look through) and a portable Internet Router which allows for no internet connection when receiving the tour. Teachers will also be given a tablet so they can manually control the tour. Google will be kicking this program off soon starting in Australia, and Brazil. It will be yet another way the tech giant helps students to learn and explore in the world of technology. They will eventually come to the United States. What are you waiting for teachers? Apply now to have a positive learning experience on your classroom!

   https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-09-28-google-brings-virtual-reality-to-schools-with-the-expeditions-pioneer-program