St. Raphael students travel the world
St. Raphael students view the world in virtual reality through Google Cardboard viewfinders. Photo by Ellen Skonce
On Monday, Jan. 11, students from St. Raphael School traveled to far away places like Congo, Mount Rushmore and the Great Barrier Reef. But they never left Bay Village. Thanks to staff members Amy Allen and Libby Mason, Google selected St. Raphael as one of only a few schools in the state of Ohio to be part of a Google pilot called the Expeditions Pioneer Program.
Using just a Google Cardboard viewfinder equipped with a smart phone, and guided by their teacher using a tablet, students were able to experience field trips across the globe that school buses certainly couldn't take them. Many students had the chance to get up close and personal with a gorilla.
Eighth-grade student Megan Mark described the virtual reality expedition as one of the craziest adventures she's ever been on, saying, "It's so weird that you're looking right at gorillas but when you move the cardboard away from your eyes you're really just at school."
In keeping with this year's school theme, students at St. Raphael definitely found themselves "Moved by Faith" with this experience, to be able to be transported to some of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Wendy Mark
I am a parent in the St. Raphael parish and school community