Getting My Glass On At Google

This is a cross-post from www.nyteched.org

I had the fantastic opportunity (with the other 2/3 of my brain, Jesse Lubinsky and Sabrina Rich)  to go to Google and hear about the Glass Explorer program. Westchester County was very well represented with a number of Google Certified Teachers/Trainers as well as Rockland County.  I don't know of another region with such a high concentration of G.C.Ts.  I consider my self very fortunate to have visited Google so often since becoming a GCT.

During the presentation we how heard from other Explorers how Glass has been used up to this point.  One downside for me is that this was a panel discussion, which does nothing for me.  I want to see how educators are using this. How is glass different from every other piece of technology that we might have access to?  Is it purely because that it is so hard to get that makes it desirable? If so, once it hits the market completely there is a few years before it become obsolete. ( Hello SMART, yes I am talking to you).

There was not much discussed that I found impressive. However, when I ventured into one of the alcoves, there was a video playing of a teacher visiting a scientific site simultaneously on a Hangout* with a class.  Now that, was transformational. This is much different than the simple virtual tour, where students are still purely consuming information but not interacting, questioning or influencing.  This is different than a Skyped interview because the students were going somewhere with the guide.  This was not scripted, with rehearsed questions to interview someone (which has great educational value). This was live, real, and spontaneous.  Students can actually influence the journey with questions and suggestions.

Suggestions to the Google Powers That Be (Looking up in the air) Use glass during your DeSTEMber events.  Plant Googlers in amazing locations that our students do not have access to, then hangout from there.  Let our classes your your Glass as a pair of eyes to experience the world, not just ask questions of an expert who is stationary and trying to do an experiment infront of a webcam.

Logistically synchronous communication is not always possible but I think it is probably the most powerful teaching tool in our arsenal.  All the attendees now the opportunity to get glass on our own and join the explorer program. I am hopeful to get a pair, and see how they can transform learning.

I will be very interested to see glass work in the hands of students. Documenting labs, engineering projects and any activity will can on new a meaning. In the hands of a novice teacher (or seasoned) Glass can provide valuable evidence for a reflective practice. And most definitely, I will be recruiting anyone who is going abroad or on site to do a Hangout* with my classes through Glass.

*The Hangout App is currently not working with Glass