1. Google Expeditions Evaluating Emerging Technologies Assessment
Sarah Holloway
ITEC 7445/Summer 2016

2. What is Google Expeditions?
A virtual reality teaching tool that allows students and teachers to participate inimmersive virtual trips all over the world.
Students can get up close looks at historical monuments, explore underwater environments, and even visit outer space!
Teachers act as guides leading students through more than 200 virtual field trips that include 360° and 3D images, pointing out interesting sights along the way.
Play.google.com

3. How Google Expeditions can support our vision
The vision of Dalton Middle School is increased use of technology to support and enhance student learning.
Google Expeditions supports this vision by allowing students access to experiences that would otherwise be impossible within the classroom.
This product gives students the ability to not only learn content but to experience the content first hand, all while never leaving their classroom.

4. How can Google Expeditions Support our Vision
Since Dalton Middle School is a Title 1 school located in a high-poverty area, many of our students do not get the chance to leave even their immediate area.
With Google Expeditions, students, teachers, and school administration do not have to worry about the financial constraints that come with field trips.
Students can visit many sites or environments to enhance their understanding of content.

5. Who can use Google Expeditions?
Google Expeditions is geared towards learners of all ages.  The simplicity of the program makes this product accessible from kindergarten students all the way to high school.
For DMS, all students would be able to utilize this program as long as they have access to the proper equipment.
The program would be best implemented in a 1:1 technology setting with WIFI capabilities to ensure the app can be used to it's full potential.

6. What is needed for our school to use Google Expeditions?
The basic requiements needed to effectively implement Google Expeditions are:
Android tablets and/or phones (iOS device compatibility coming soon)
WIFI access
Additional resources to enhance the program's use would be any type of VR viewing device:
Google Cardboard viewers are an inexpensive addition to this program and allow students to use their Android phones.

7. Technical Support Available for Teachers, Administrators, and students
Google provides free 24/7 online technical support for all users.
Students may browse help guides or simply search for their topic and follow the step-by-step instructions to fix the issue.
Teachers and administrators have access to online chat support as well as the help guides.

8. Limitations of Google Expeditions
Currently, the program is only available on Android devices, however an iOS rollout is expected to follow. 
When many people think of VR, they think of being able to walk and explore a vast environment.  Google Expeditions uses only images captured with a 360° camera to immerse students in an environment.
Without a VR viewer, 360° images are only projected in 2D.
However, the use of a VR viewer transforms these 2D images into 3D to give the students the feeling of actually being there. Currently there are no VR viewers compatible with tablets.

9. Healthy, Safe, and ethical use of Google Expeditions
Since Google developed this app for students and teachers, the resources available are all school-appropriate and do not allow for students to use this app in an unethical way.
Students cannot create their own virtual field trips which is both a limitation and a way to ensure the safe use of the app.

10. The Best News of all...
The Google Expeditions app and the over 200 virtual field trips are available to all educators and schools for FREE
The costs come in when purchasing the technology needed to utilize the program.
VR viewer kits supported by Google range in price from $5 to $85.
Android compatible tablets range from $200 to over $1000

11. Potential for Pilot Program
DMS currently has 8 iPad carts on site, but since the iOS version is not yet available, the purchase of one or two Android tablet carts could be utilized in a pilot program by one or two classrooms which would benefit the most from this program.
Social Studies and Science have the most potential to utilize Google Expeditions immediately and in a way that is directly related to many of the Georgia Standards of Excellence in both subjects.

12. Title 1 funding for google Expeditions
As a Title 1 school, Dalton Middle receives federal funding to purchase tools and technologies to support the education of students who are at a disadvantage due to their financial circumstances.
Google Expeditions and the peripheral equipment for implementation would adhere to the expenditure guidelines of federal Title 1 funds.

13. DPs Grants for funding google expeditions
Dalton Public School also has several grants that teachers can choose to apply for that would allow for funds to supplement the purchase of a limited number of devices needed to implement Google Expeditions.

14. Using Google Expeditions in the classroom
Google Expeditions provides many opportunities for science and social studies teachers to meet content standards:
Science teachers can take students to Mars or the Moon, or under the water to explore coral reefs to analyze and identify different characteristics and why those characteristics exist.
Social Studies teachers can travel with their students to Machu Picchu or the Great Wall of China to discuss the cultures and histories that allowed for the creation of such infamous sites.

15. USING Google Expeditions in the classroom
Google Expeditions provides teachers and students with a gateway to using more technology:
Students can discuss their experiences in a blog or online discussion forum with classmates.
Teachers may set up an online collaboration with classrooms from areas that were visited during a virtual field trip to allow students direct communication with those who experience the area first hand.

16. Using Google In the Classroom
Not only can teachers lead these “field trips”, but students can choose experiences to participate in based on their interest.
However, there must always be a guide when entering an expedition.
Users can choose to be a leader or a follower when entering an expedition.
This could be a great way to allow students to lead classmates in small groups or whole group on various “trips.”
This requires the student to study the location and select important sights to highlight to their classmates.

17. How does google expeditions provide differentiated instruction?
With the use of images, Google Expeditions breaks the language barrier for students who are not proficient in English, or have reading deficiencies. Students do not have to read information, but simply SEE and experience the information as the teacher guides them using arrows to point out specific locations and details.
Teachers also have the ability to slow the pace of the trip and take more time discussing a location if needed, unlike real field trips where a certain time frame must be followed.

18. How does Google Expeditions Provide differentiated instruction?
Students who face educational disadvantages are given the opportunity to experience success with the hands-on, immersive quality of this product.
They become instantly engaged because they can easily manipulate how they learn.
Google Expeditions allows for seamless collaboration with classmates as partners can show each other locations that spark their interest.

19. Research available
In 2015, Google announced their Google Expeditions Pioneer Program that gave teachers the opportunity to "test" the program for free and included training by a Google Local Guide for teachers.
With the full rollout coming at ISTE 2016, this program ended and now educators have an all-access pass to Google Expeditions
However, because the program is fairly new and just out of the testing phase, research is limited to tech magazines, personal blogs, and Google partner evaluators.

20. Evaluation of Research
The articles and reviews I have read from reputable sources have all given Google Expeditions much praise for its immersive quality, inclusivity of all students, and its ability to provide "deeper understanding."
Janice Mak, in her article for ISTE, states "With such a realistic and immersive experience, they could make observations and build a deeper understanding of the remote places we visited. For example, seeing the red dust covering deflated airbags on the Spirit rover gave them a rare glimpse of the geography of Mars." (ISTE.org)

21. Evaluation of Research
Nicole Howard wrote for Edutopia:
"The classroom teacher took us to the Great Wall of China. This is when it dawned on me that the ability to travel at any time, to any place, at your own pace, and for free is the big deal!... I recognize that my own real-life adventures inform my ability to deliver meaningful instruction to any student. Additionally, my connections to my content are deeper and therefore more evident to my students. These deeper connections bring to life the experiences of both the teachers and students." (Edutopia.org)

22. Training
Google provides access to local Google experts that can come in and train educators to use a variety of products related to Google Education.
Online training is also provided based on your needs and the product.
Having teachers and administrators trained by a Google Local Guide would allow the teachers to become experts themselves and be able to provide training to other staff members through professional learning opportunities.
Students would be given training within the classroom from their teacher.

23. The implementation process
This product will inevitably create changes in the way teachers go about presenting some aspects of their curriculum. To make the transition as smooth as possible and allow for the most effective change, I think the Cyclical Process Framework (CFRAN) would be the best model in this case.
This change model allows for the pilot group to experiment with the processes and procedures to lay a foundation for successful implementation on a larger scale.

24. The implementation process Con't.
The pilot team would create a framework that sustains the change and then reaches out to mentor other individuals. As success and mistakes are expected, these would all be used to further the process of facilitating an effective change at the system level.

25. The implementation plan Con't.
When the pilot team has reached a level of confidence in the implementation of the product on the small scale, the change will be made known to the wider audience and all who will be effected by the change.
Together, goals will be set, objectives will be designed, and all stakeholders will be brought in.

26. The implementation plan con't.
Finally, after understanding of processes and structures is gained by all at the system level, the team would then set out to develop a sense of a better future of all.

27. Reflection on google Expeditions
While researching this program, I became aware of all the new technologies that are being introduced into education. I have seen how many companies are using education as another way to strengthen their bottom line, but also how companies like Google are reaching out to educators for little to no cost and providing revolutionary programs that push the boundaries of education. I have also gained knowledge in the process for which my district selects new educational materials. This will be useful for me as I become introduced to new technologies that I feel would provide more support for my students in their endeavors to become educated citizens.

28. References
Howard, Nicole. (January 5, 2016). Come Along and Ride on a Google Expedition. Edutopia.org Retrieved from Mak, Janice. (February 5, 2016). Google Expeditions offers stunning field trips without leaving school ISTE.org Retrieved from Nagel, David. (June 27, 2016). ISTE 2016 Coverage: Google Expeditions in Full Rollout, iOS Version to Follow. The Journal. Retrieved from Yoder, Maureen. (November 27, 2015). Virtual reality in the classroom just got affordable. ISTE.org. Retrieved from