Documentation:Google Business View

GBV is an online application, part of the Google Maps suite. It allows certified Google Trusted Photographers to create 360’, interactive views of the interior of a Google Map’s location. Google's service provides the base virtual tour without the possibility to add any interactive layers. However, there are a number of new companies, such as www.walkinto.in, www.tourdash.com, www.tourmake.it that allow users to build rich interfaces and embed various media on top of Google's base virtual tour. Users are able to navigate through a space and engage with media placed in specific areas.

Proof of Concepts

We have developed the following two proof-of-concepts to show how Google Business View may be used in an educational setting.

The Civil and Mechanical Engineering Structures Lab

The virtual Civil and Mechanical Engineering Structures Lab will be used by engineering students to explore lab equipment before entering the physical lab. " [T]hese labs are designed to allow for easy repetition of experiments, students feel less pressure to execute perfectly the first time. In the controlled environments of these labs, students are safe, even if they make an error" (Briggs, 2013)

This link contains a detailed description of the lab as well as a user guide, learning objectives, resources and assessment tools.

The Pacific Museum of Earth Virtual Field Trip

The Pacific Museum of Earth is a small museum located at UBC containing geologic samples; which is an effective science-based learning environment for a Virtual Field Trip of grades K-12. This link contains a more detailed description of the learning environment, intended audiences, user guide, learning objectives, resources and assessment tools.

What is a Virtual Field Trip (VFT)?

A virtual field trip (VFT) is a technology-based experience that allows children to take an educational journey without leaving the classroom (Cox & Su 2004). These multimedia presentations bring the sights, sounds, and descriptions of distant places to learners (Klemm & Tuthill 2003).

Benefits of Using Google Business View as a Platform for Virtual Field Trips:

1) Inexpensive (free)

2) No need for additional supervision

3) Less time-consuming than a physical field trip

4) Students can visit virtually anywhere in the world from their classroom

5) Builds schemata (background knowledge) and provides students with interactive experiences with places they may not have otherwise had the opportunity to visit

6) Accessibility - all students have access to a VFT, regardless of physical or learning disabilities

7) Reflects and accommodates many different learning styles

8) GBV is a web-based application where teachers (and students) can embed their own learning materials according to their grade/interest level needs and wants - each tour is totally customizable and lends itself well to inquiry-based learning: “Denise Jarrett, writer and researcher for Inquiry Strategies for Science and Mathematics Learning, indicates that inquiry-based instruction improves student attitude and achievement, facilitates student understanding, fosters critical thinking skills, and facilitates mathematical discovery. She provides guidelines for creating an inquiry-based classroom that provide students with the time, space, resources, and safety necessary for learning. {One of these} include: Engaging students in designing the learning environment.”

Students, if building their own VFT, will feel a sense of purpose by producing content that people will view (depending on the sharing permissions set), learn from, and experience. Students (with guidance from the teacher) will be able to embed their own learning materials and formulate their own questions for their classmates (and others) to answer. They will be constructing their own meaning of the VFT. At the same time, teachers will gain an understanding of what types of learning materials the individual students desire to include and therefore provide potential insight into the learning styles of the students.