Local Students Take Virtual Field Trip To Madagascar, Great Barrier Reef And The Moon
By Mike DeNardo
HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa., (CBS) -- Students at a Huntingdon Valley elementary school went to Madagascar Monday. Then to the Great Barrier Reef. And finally to the moon. But they never really left their classroom.
"There's footprints!"
Wearing his virtual reality goggles, third grader Greg looked down at the surface of the moon to see footprints of the astronauts who walked there before him. In actual reality, Greg and his classmates at Pine Road Elementary School were taking part Google's Expeditions program, which allows goggle-wearing students to take virtual field trips almost anywhere on -- or off -- the planet. Principal Brian Swank says his school was selected for a one-day test drive.
"The program right now is free. Google is really in the beta stages with this program. And so they've put out an offer to schools that if it's something you would like to try, it's really mutually beneficial for Google and for us," said Swank.
Students wear goggles and their teacher uses a tablet to control the view. Teacher Nicole Hershey says the 360-degree view brings lessons alive.
"I don't think you can get much more visual than this. They're there. They're right in the place they're learning about," said Hershey.
And Greg has a story to tell, about his trip to the moon.
"When I come and tell my parents, they won't believe."
No word on how much the program will cost when Google does roll it out.
