Using Google Expeditions and Tour Creator to Differentiate Learning Experiences and Assessment

Purpose & objective

The objective of this presentation is to model for teachers, curriculum coaches and other stakeholders the innovative way in which Google Expeditions and Google Virtual Tour Creator can be utilized to enhance the learning experience for students with diverse learning needs as well as provide a creative performance task for students to express their understanding of the content.
Through Google Expeditions, students can learn important vocabulary associated with cell structure, anatomy of a river, and historical settings within novels. Students can explore in a 360 degree environment while the teacher provides an auditory guide.
Using Google Virtual Tour Creator, teachers can provide students with parameters for a performance task that incorporates all of the key ideas from a unit, and students are able to express their knowledge through a virtual tour complete with audio clips and explanations for each stop along the way. Through the design process, teachers will provide students with meaningful feedback setting the students up for success along the way. Students then have the opportunity to publish their work, contributing to the global community through the lens of their project. In addition, students will post their completed Virtual Tour on Padlet so all students can explore their classmates’ virtual journey, provide feedback, ask questions, and learn about different cultures and settings around the globe.

Supporting research

NGSS supports the use of Performance tasks as indicators of deep understanding of concepts within the scope of different science phenomena. Through a performance task that incorporates multiple facets, a student can touch on their understanding of several different Science and Engineering Practices as well as Cross Cutting Concepts in addition to the Disciplinary Core Ideas being assessed.