Google VR provides Tour Creator to introduce a new level of augmented reality in the classroom. Due to the cost and coordination of arranging field trips, a lot of schools cannot take students outside of the building for real-life experiences. Consequently, many students miss out on the opportunity to build connections in their learning. Tour Creator allows teachers to take their students to different parts of the world to explore and observe places through a 360-degree camera. The easy-to-use site allows teachers to select any location or specific landmark, and Google directs its camera to that area. You can then add the scene to the tour after writing a description and picking the opening image. Then, students can drag/move their screens around and read or listen to the description, which simulates actually visiting that location.
Tour Creator falls into the Danielson Framework's first domain, Planning and Preparation. As teachers prepare this tool for their classroom, they must be considering the interest levels of their students (1b), especially since the children do not get to experience going anywhere in real life. However, by introducing augmented reality, teachers demonstrate their resourcefulness (1d) and creativity to enrich the learning environment. These tours can be inserted into lessons of all sorts, especially when reading about a historical place or fictional setting. Therefore, they contribute to smooth, coherent instruction (1e). Because of this, Tour Creator also relates to many components in Domain 3: Instruction. The scenery in each location on the tour can prompt effective discussion (3b), and teachers can even ask questions in their descriptions of the places to encourage these conversations. The students then feel more engaged in the learning (3c).
When considering the ISTE Standards for Students, Tour Creator falls into standard 6: Creative Communicator. Specifically, students can use this platform to communicate complex ideas by using diagrams and images (6c). They can simulate scenarios and rotate the landscape to gain a full picture of a setting or object they describe. In connection to the Four C's of Teaching and Learning, Tour Creator incorporates these elements seamlessly. For example, it opens up communication between teachers and students as they describe the tour and discuss relevant topics. It leads into discussion. This can then turn into collaboration, as peers work together to present something using this tool. Because of its accessibility, students can pick places from all different areas and add them to the tours. Through effective organization and innovative ideas, Tour Creator promotes creativity and encourages critical thinking skills as students analyze setting rather than simply looking at them.
Overall, I would recommend this tool for occasional classroom use. It provides a break from normal school activities and allows kids to "escape" to a more comforting or engaging environment. The opportunity to go on field trips does not exist at every school, so Tour Creator is a wonderful alternative that provides clear images and readable. I do wish, however, that the site allowed students to move forward and back to explore more of an area, rather than in a circular motion. Because of this, students can only focus on one thing at a time. Despite this fact, teachers can use this tool for creative writing assignments, science descriptions, or even creative math problems. By providing this virtual reality, children can see their world through a new lens and feel inspired to discover more about it.
Feel free to check out the images from a tour I made to showcase some of the spots in Pennsylvania that are important to me!