As unfortunate as it has been, the original Google Expeditions VR app became inaccessible last summer. In an effort to mitigate this shift, however, the RobotLAB team released their VR Expeditions 2.0 kits and we were able to add them to our STEM offerings this past fall. This VR content is similar to the Google Expeditions platform but it also offers a more enhanced learning experience. With the Expeditions 2.0 app, in particular, students have access to extremely high-quality 4K images and, now, they can access the same high-definition content in video format as well. Built to help make possible what was previously impossible to explore (pandemic or not), Expeditions 2.0 also works with existing VR content. And, this allows students to travel to new places—in their own cities or the other side of the world.
We've talked a lot about how the Expeditions 2.0 app helps educators immerse students directly into educational content. After the original Google Expeditions app was discontinued last summer, the RobotLAB team helped create a top alternative for continuing this type of instruction. Though it's different from the original Google Expeditions app, the RobotLAB VR Expeditions 2.0 system at least helps educators pick up the torch, so to speak, and continue delivering lessons in a format they may already be somewhat familiar with. When it comes to the RobotLAB VR content, specifically, it's easy to access and helps make instruction relevant. They've also added over 1,000 new scenes to the Expeditions 2.0 app with new and improved teacher content. There are easy, intermediate, and advanced questions at the end of each scene as well in all types of Expeditions, including National Park, New York City, Mt. Olympus, and many, many more.
Finding Expeditions 2.0 lessons.
When purchasing any of the six RobotLAB VR kits, educators can start using the Expeditions 2.0 app right away. Each of the student devices that come in the latest kits should ship with the Expeditions 2.0 app already installed. For educators who'd like to research it beforehand, it's easy to find examples of VR lessons on the RobotLAB website. The lessons include in-depth content for almost any academic subject and alignment with Common Core, NGSS, or TEKS standards. Teachers can browse through some of the available RobotLAB lessons before purchasing so you know what you're looking for. Plus, with recent updates to the Expeditions 2.0 teacher app, including an enhanced search feature, student engagement monitoring tools, recovery mode, and more, teaching with these VR kits is even more classroom-friendly.
On the Engage K-12 page of the RobotLB website, you'll see the options for toggling between pre-created lesson ideas. In addition to the RobotLAB VR kits, they offer educational robotics solutions, including the NAO V6 and Cubelets. To find Expeditions 2.0 content, however, start by selecting the VR option from the dropdown in the Robot field. This will display all of the available courses and lessons for teaching with the RobotLAB VR kits. As you'll see, there are currently six lessons and one course available. They're ideal for middle school students and perfect for those who would consider themselves beginners.
Using the Expeditions 2.0 app as a teacher.
With this content and the other immersive lessons, educators can redefine what it means to lead effective teaching and learning. Besides this small set of examples, there are over 700 Expeditions in total, making the extensive list of opportunities for virtual reality field trips extremely appealing. Once set up with the Expeditions 2.0 app, educators can access each of these field trips. The RobotLAB team collaborated with professionals from Encyclopedia Britannica to create them and they feature content from over 300 cities from all around the world. And, this is what truly adds that—often lacking—excitement to everyday academic lessons.
When accessing the Expeditions 2.0 app on the teacher tablet, educators can do more than simply share Expeditions with students. Like they're able to do on the RobotLAB website, teachers can toggle, sort, and discover incredible VR lessons that align with their subject areas and comfort levels. On the left side of the interface, they'll see the content categories broken down by subject. The list is extensive and includes geography, the ancient world, and even math and coding-related content. Also, access to the Expeditions 2.0 app doesn't require any subscriptions and there are no recurring fees. They only need to purchase a license once and will never make any future payments for content they've already accessed.
Additional benefits of the app.
Another helpful wrinkle of the Expeditions 2.0 app is that students don't necessarily need Internet access. While use of the RobotLAB VR systems is optimized when they're connected to the Internet, it's not entirely necessary. As long as the teacher's tablet is connected, they can lead each lesson using the immersive guides and on-screen prompts. Students will still be able to see these and follow along regardless if they're also connected to the Internet. Plus, teachers can also locally save any content they'd like to come back to on their teacher tablet. After doing this, they won't need to re-connect to the Internet to access this specific content in the future. This works great for situations in which teachers know they'll need to revisit something or simply want to allow kids the opportunity to relive something that was particularly enjoyable.
The content within the Expeditions 2.0 app is exclusively for educators. While you might expect this from an education-focused learning solution, it's important to note that not all VR content is for students. In the case of RobotLAB VR and Expeditions 2.0, in particular, however, it absolutely is. Each Expedition comes with student handouts so teachers have a tangible set of materials to supplement what they're discussing. Plus, the newly available classroom management tools are what allow educators to save their favorite Expeditions, find the content that's tailored towards their students, and simplify how they access and lead lessons.
Using Expeditions 2.0 in the classroom.
Despite how other educational content models work, the Expeditions 2.0 system is extremely user-friendly. On top of that, the elimination of recurring payments has been a huge selling point in convincing educators to invest as has the accessibility and offline access. To learn more about the RobotLAB VR kits, click below to visit our store or get in touch with us. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more.
