Google Expeditions and Virtual Reality Viewers

Project Description
The 8th grade team would like to use Google Expeditions as an immersive learning and teaching tool that will allow us and our students to go on Virtual Reality expeditions and explore virtual objects and substances. This tool could be used across all curriculum to explore historical landmarks, examine solutions and mixtures at the atomic level, get up close views of specific ecosystems and even allow us to visit outer space! In the classroom or with groups, Google Expeditions allows a teacher acting as a ‘guide’ to lead classroom-sized groups of ‘explorers’ through VR tours or show them AR objects. Guides can use a set of tools to point out interesting things along the way.

How will the project be evaluated (e.g. how will you gauge its success)
Success would be measured in a variety of ways. There is an observational component related to the level of student engagement in the lessons that include Google Expeditions and virtual reality experiences. Also, where the Google Expedition experiences allow students to access curriculum and knowledge in a way that goes far beyond what students can see in a textbook or even in a video online, teachers will be able to design lessons in a UDL (universal design for learning) format which improves equity of access to curriculum for all learners. Success in achieving this equity of access will be measured through common formative and summative assessments that relate to the material the students are studying in their immersive experiences.

Benefit to the students and the school
We will use the Google virtual reality viewers to enrich the entire 8th grade science curriculum

Timeline of Project (when will you do the project, if applicable)
The viewers would be integrated throughout the various units and they would be used throughout the 2019-2020 school year and beyond.