Google has announced that they will be bringing their virtual reality Expeditions Pioneer Program to thousands of schools around the world, all for free.
During the upcoming school year, Google will be bringing virtual reality “kits” to classrooms for students to go on virtual reality field trips. The program kits will include an ASUS ZenFone 2 smartphone, a tablet for the teach to direct the tour, a router that allows Expeditions to run without internet connection, and Google Cardboard viewers or Mattel View-Masters as VR headsets paired with the phone for students.
The Google Expeditions are expected to visit thousands of schools around the world, with initial one-day class visits starting in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S., followed up by more countries soon after. Teachers can select from a over 100+ virtual trips for their students to places like the Great Barrier Reef or Mayan ruins in Central America.
Within the U.S., Expeditions Pioneer Program visits will make their way to California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Texas.
Although Google hasn’t ruled out charging for the kits in the future, for now they will be made available for free, which is a great thing for students and teachers. Google’s Expeditions is like the magic school bus, taking students to places that are out of reach of their local area. The program not only benefits students with a fun exploration of technology and learning, but teachers as well who are often faced with slim budgets and limited local learning environments.
You can learn more about the program at https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/
Image Credit: Google
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