Mayfield Junior School: Exploring with Google Expeditions
“Whoa! Oh! This is awesome!”
Beware Google Expeditions can cause spontaneous exclamation.
Students and teachers in grades 2-8 discovered this when Mayfield Junior School was selected to experience Google’s latest innovation this week. With Google Cardboard devices held firmly over their eyes, students stood amidst the wonders of the natural world, swam with sharks and got up close and personal with major landmarks and monuments all without leaving their swivel chairs.
Google Expeditions Pioneer Program is a new product that allows teachers to take their classes on virtual field trips with 360° photo spheres, 3D images, video and ambient sounds. Google collaborated with institutions such as PBS, The Wildlife Conservation Society and the American Museum of Natural History to develop the content. Our teachers were excited for the opportunity to test the technology and experiment with integrating this immersive experience into the curriculum. Students visited desert habitats, preserved oceans, wonders of engineering like the Pyramids and the Great Wall of China and even explored the inner workings of a recycling center. Thank you Google Expeditions!
Mayfield Junior School, 405 South Euclid Ave., Pasadena, (626) 796-2774 or visit www.mayfieldjs.org.