Google+ Connected Classrooms Take Field Trips Virtual Through Hangouts

Google+ Hangouts are a great way to organize a group video chat with up to 10 people, and today Google announced its Connected Classrooms program.

Connected Classrooms connect teachers with various organizations, enabling them to give virtual field trips through Hangouts.

Here are some of the “tour guides” currently on board:

• Minnesota Zoo
• Seattle Aquarium
• American Museum of Natural History
• National Geographic Education
• Argonne National Laboratory
• Chicago Botanic Gardens
• The United States Army Field Band
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• New York Hall of Science
• Atlanta Zoo
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Berkeley Lab
• Stan Winston School of Character Arts

For teachers to be part of Google+ Connected Classrooms, they first need to join the community at the official website.

Once registered, teachers can view a calendar of upcoming virtual field trips, and sign up for one that fits their classroom.

Starting with the question, “If students can’t go on field trips, why don’t we bring field trips to them?,” the video below shares how Google+ Connected Classrooms will work.