Google Expeditions in the Classroom

Cheap or Free Virtual and Augmented Reality: Google Expeditions in the Classroom

Virtual and augmented reality have become a common technology used in gaming, social media apps, sports television, military and other training, and in an array of other fields. Years ago, the technology was expensive and rarely seen, much less experienced by the public, but now augmented reality is available for everyone to use and especially popular within apps such as Snapchat, Pokemon Go, and Instagram. Virtual reality is still not as easily accessible since it requires the use of additional hardware, but its use is on the rise. Since their inceptions, virtual and augmented reality have been symbols of the future, but now the future is in our businesses, classrooms, and homes.

Virtual and augmented reality can be used in classrooms to provide a hands-on (virtually, of course) experience for learning. Although it sounds daunting and expensive, incorporating it into a unit or daily lesson does not have to be complicated or costly. Google makes the process easy and affordable with Google Expeditions. Users simply download the Expeditions app for Apple or Android to get started. There are device requirements depending on whether you are using Apple, Android, or a Google Chromebook, which are listed here, but otherwise one can use Expeditions for cheap or free.

As an option, Google offers Expedition Kits that are customizable, but if students already have their own cell phones that meet the device requirements then virtual reality can be incorporated using Google Cardboard, starting at just over $5 or you can even build it yourself for free! These cardboard goggles will hold a cell phone securely, allowing students to hold their phones like binoculars and look into them without anything distracting them in their peripheral vision. The cardboard provides total immersion into virtual reality.

Teachers will need to set up a peer to peer network if they intend on doing a virtual reality field trip and guiding the tour. Teachers can guide the field trips by starting them at the same time on everyone's phones. Students will love being able to move around in class while using their phones and experiencing learning instead of just listening, taking notes, or looking at 2D images.  

With tours being provided by National Geographic, the Guggenheim, the American Museum of Natural History, and others, field trips will certainly be of quality and will be ones that many students would otherwise never have the chance to experience...all without having to leave the classroom.

References

Bring your lessons to life with Expeditions (n.d.). Retrieved from https://edu.google.com/products/vr-ar/expeditions/?modal_active=none

Build it yourself (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gstatic.com/cardboard_assets/wwgc_manufacturers_kit.zip

Expedition device requirements (n.d.). Retrieved from https://support.google.com/edu/expeditions/answer/9161108?hl=en&ref_topic=6334250

Expeditions (n.d.). Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.vr.expeditions

Expeditions on the App Store (n.d.). Retrieved from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/expeditions/id1131711060

FCPS Media Network. (2017, Oct 6). Google Expeditions [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3DMEdIP2RI

Get an Expeditions kit (n.d.). Retrieved from https://support.google.com/edu/expeditions/answer/7375176?hl=en&ref_topic=6334250

Get your Cardboard (n.d.). Retrieved from https://arvr.google.com/cardboard/get-cardboard/

Guide a group tour (n.d.). Retrieved from https://support.google.com/edu/expeditions/answer/6335098?hl=en&ref_topic=6334250

Set up your network (n.d.). Retrieved from https://support.google.com/edu/expeditions/answer/6335083?hl=en&ref_topic=6334250