In 2013, Buzzfeed conducted an awesome, eye-opening experiment where they asked several citizens of England to label all 50 states. The outcomes were both hilarious and scary (see image below and full Buzzfeed article here. Caution: Lots of laughter ahead and some vulgar handwriting).
On one side of the coin, this was hysterical. The participants’ lack of knowledge was filled with creative genius. Several Utah’s, “old people” for Florida, and “Further South Dakota”. I couldn’t stop reading through the maps to find the next “best” answer. On the other side, this was scary. I’m sure the pool of participants worked in various fields with an array of educational backgrounds and different levels of interest in geography. However, in a world where we rely so heavily on the global economy to fuel our everyday needs and ventures, our lack of geographical and cultural understanding is mind-blowing. This isn’t meant to be judgemental; believe me, I’m in the same boat. I’m sure a global map would be butchered with random country names if I was tasked with a similar objective (see USA results labeling Europe). But shouldn’t we know more about each other, where we live, and how our geography impacts our lives? How do we create this experience for our students? How do we educate our students to better prepare them to interact in a global world and build empathy and understanding for others?
Introducing 360 View of You! – A 2017 Google Innovator Project
360 View of You is a global collaboration project designed for students and teachers to share a snapshot of what life is like for them at their school. By utilizing Google Street View (a free smartphone app), participants will create 360-degree photospheres of their classrooms, cafeterias, playgrounds, and unique learning spaces to be placed on a shared project map. Globally, students will explore other cultures, learn about the different design elements of classrooms, and build relationships with students and teachers around the world. By leveraging technology and the shared network of participants, we hope to inspire global collaboration on projects where students incorporate cultural, economic, and political factors of other countries to find solutions to issues around the world.
Sample 360 Photosphere:
Current Participating Classes:
I’m interested, how do I participate?
In its first year, we are looking for teachers and students who wish to create a 360-degree photosphere of their classroom, cafeteria, and playground to share with the world. This 15-minute exercise can be completed using the FREE Google Street View app on any cell phone. All photospheres are placed on a global community map where teachers and students can view other user-submitted entries from around the world. This project is designed to create a global community that not only shares a 360-degree photosphere but builds instant access to connections around the world for teachers and students to collaborate and learn from one another.
Want all the details?
Visit www.360viewedu.com or contact Ed on Twitter (@EdfromEdTech) with any questions or comments.
Ed is an Innovation Specialist with Charleston County School District in South Carolina. As a Google for Education Certified Innovator and Trainer, and Apple Teacher, he enjoys sharing his passion for educational technology with teachers all over the world. During his career, he has worked as a fourth-grade teacher, technology coach, computer lab instructor, and educational technology specialist. Each job has provided a unique experience of 1:1 student device implementation and how to work with varying stakeholders to support a successful program. In his spare time, he enjoys coaching lacrosse, hanging with his son, and traveling the world!
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