Year eight pupils from St Aldhelm’s Academy have been getting up close and personal with dinosaurs using the latest ‘immersive learning’ technology from Google.
The school in Herbert Avenue, Poole, is among the first in the country to try out Google Expedition headsets – virtual reality learning aids which have already been piloted by schools in the United States.
Google Expedition uses simple cardboard ‘viewers’ which are fitted with mobile phones.
The class teacher then downloads the expedition app on her tablet or computer and is able to send synchronised three-dimensional 360° panoramas to each student’s viewer, pointing out areas of interest in real time and taking them on a journey of discovery.
St Aldhelm’s Geography teacher, Frances Timms, said: “It really is amazing.
“This morning I have taken students to Angel Falls and the busy streets of New Delhi.
“We’ve also stood alongside dinosaurs and been up close to sharks in their natural environment.
“The students actually feel that they are experiencing these places and when that happens it makes learning even more exciting.”
Student Ella Greene, said: “You feel like you are actually in the water, alongside the sharks. It’s amazing.
“It’s so much better than just looking at pictures in books. You actually feel like you are there.”
St Aldhelm’s is one of six schools which form Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT).
The headsets are also being trialled by AAT’s King’s Park Academy in Bournemouth and could eventually be purchased and used by schools across the Trust.
Sian Thomas, executive principal of St Aldhelm’s, said: “We pride ourselves on the excellence of our IT department and are always open to new technology which can help our pupils to learn about the world and science.
“I look forward to hearing their feedback on Google Expedition and also trying one of those headsets myself.”
Google paid a visit to St Aldhelm’s Academy and had the pupils amazed with their virtual reality headsets. Georgie Raine, Stavros Ntontis and Casey Old.
Media information – Debbie Granville, account director at Deep South Media, on 01202 534487 mobile: 07884 657782 or email: debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
