Pupils tackle world’s toughest climb on virtual reality field trip
STUDENTS AT a Yorkshire school scaled the face of Yosemite’s El Capitan from the safety of their classroom thanks to Google’s latest educational tool – virtual reality.
The Year Seven pupils from Fulneck School, Leeds, were participating in the new Google Expedition experience, where the lesson is viewed through cardboard goggles attached to a mobile phone and synched to a teacher-operated app.
Science teacher and keen rock climber, Mark Robinson, led his pupils on a gruelling three-day ascent up the El Capitan vertical rock formation, located in Yosemite National Park, California, which is known as the world’s toughest climb.
The Google Cardboard viewers gave the pupils looking through them 360-degree and 3D images of El Capitan and the surrounding landscape.
With each image, Mr Robinson was able to talk about the challenges facing the climbers and the equipment needed to reach the top.
Mr Robinson said: “This Google Expedition was simply superb and was an incredibly exciting way to deliver a lesson.
“The quality of the images was fantastic, and, because they were 360 degrees, wherever the children moved their heads the view changed accordingly.
“There are scores of expeditions to choose from, and I chose this one because of my rock climbing hobby. And, once we left California after completing our climb, the class picked the next destination.
“I think there’s a very good chance these Google Cardboards will become a reality and part of everyday teaching. Anything that enhances the learning experience is to be welcomed.”
Google Expeditions has been developed by the internet tech giant “to open up the classroom for an immersive learning experience”.
Other field trips include exploring the Great Barrier Reef, going inside the human body and visiting the International Space Station.