A few weeks ago I took my students to Shakespeare's Globe Theater in London, sort of. After studying Shakespeare, the Globe Theater History, and Much Ado about Nothing, I figured it was time for a field trip. But I've got no money and no time, and the all important standardized tests are coming up (sigh). What I do have is a classroom of curious and interested students.
The solution? Google Cardboard, Google Street View, and my iPhone6. I located several photospheres from Shakespeare's Globe Theater and included the experience as part of a differentiated stations activity that was inquiry driven. The resulting student engagement knocked my socks off!
Student responses? "Wow! It's taller than I imagined! It's much smaller than I thought; it looks oriental in design. I didn't think it would be so intricate. Is that where the queen would sit? Would they throw things on the stage? It is open to the sky...cool. What if it rains? Doesn't it rain in London?" These were just a few of the reactions.
What did my students like best about our virtual field trip? They liked the experience of feeling what it might be like to be in the theater and seeing the details in a 3D environment.
What did I like best about our virtual field trip? The student engagement, wanting to stay after class to do more, asking where they can buy their own Google Cardboard, and wondering where we can go next.
Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Well, I could have asked for 30 tickets to London and the premier of the hottest show in town, but I'll keep my reality virtual for now.
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