Image via TechCrunch
In April, Google introduced a new version of Google Earth that added a number of features that go beyond visualizing the planet through the use of maps and satellite imagery. Now you can go on tours of famous buildings and learn about the worlds many wonders.
A new feature called Voyager offers a showcase of guided tours from scientists, nonprofits, and other organizations and storytellers. The tours let you explore a region or multiple venues through the use of photos, 360 video, and Google Maps Street View along with text. At launch, there were tours from groups like BBC Earth, Jane Goodall, Sesame Street, and NASA available.
At the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) conference, Google announced it’s expanding its lineup of tours to include 10 new stories, specifically designed for educational use. Partners on this new effort include National Geographic Society, PBS Education, HHMI Biointeractive and Mission Blue.
These stories will allow students to explore the world using Google Earth in the classroom by visiting remote locations or venturing across the world without moving their feet.
In addition, Google Earth is being added as a service for Google Education, which means IT admins can now manage the product through the Google Admin panel.
The Google Earth Voyager updates were announced along with other new educational tools, including a collection of STEM tools for Chromebooks (Dremel 3D40 3D Printer and littleBits Code Kit) which schools can purchase as a discounted bundle, as well as a self-guided mode in the Expeditions app for Cardboard and Daydream that will allow students and teachers to pick any of the over 600 virtual field trips the app offers on their own.
(Story via TechCrunch)