Google Expeditions enables teachers to bring students on virtual trips to places like museums, underwater, and outer space. Expeditions are collections of linked Virtual Reality (VR) content and supporting materials that can be used alongside existing curriculum. These trips are collections of virtual reality panoramas — 360° panoramas and 3D images — annotated with details, points of interest, and questions that make them easy to integrate into curriculum already used in schools. World’s tallest building Burj Khalifa in Dubai and Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi are parts of Google Expedition Library. There will be more additions to this library for which Google is working with a number of partners including National Geographic, WWF and many others around the world. The expected Billion Dollar niche business of Virtual Reality is set to redefine the future in the next 10 years. The miraculous events of the interactive technology can transfer knowledge from the 2D and 3D mediums to the immersive, in-depth life-like experiences. Education powered by Virtual Reality offers near to real life experience to students, making learning interesting and interactive. The major benefit of using VR technology is that a large group of students can interact with each others within a three-dimensional environment from different geographical locations. Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and UAE’s Minister of Education, H.E. Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi recently tried the Virtual Reality at a Virtual Reality knowledge transfer solutions event. Munfarid a start-up from Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, working along with Tamkeen part of Bahrain’s national reform initiatives, fostering youth success thru technology aided learning & development programs. The co-founder Dr. Sana Farid, an educationalist, explained on how VR platform is set to enhance the quality and effectiveness of education, VR helps to engage better, increase knowledge retention and improve results at e-Learnit conference this April. Google Expeditions kits – powered by VRXOne is now available in Middle East for the first time. The revolutionary kit is ideal for various future school programs including Bahrain.
Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, UAE Vision 2021, Qatar National Vision 2030, New Kuwait 2035 Vision, and Oman 2020 are some of the remarkable programs in The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries focusing on improving education. Munfaird Consulting has plans to expand its horizon to other regions by Q4 – 2017 as the company CEO explained.
( Youtube Video Link) Google Expeditions: Millions of students, on virtual trips to anywhere, one of their favorite destination is the world’s tallest building in Dubai Burj Khalifa.
The Virtual Reality is set to foray into the world of tempting possibilities where the average working class will be dealing directly with the technology on a daily basis.