HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK — Keaau Elementary students wearing Google Glass and staff armed with laptops and MiFis broadcast a virtual field trip via Livestream and Google Hangout to Nanakuli Elementary, Hale Kula Elementary, University Lab School and Peterson Schools in Mexico City (which is teaching Hawaiian as a third language), along with other viewers on the Internet.
You can view the full
Google Hangout on YouTube. The video above shows highlights of Keaau's experience:
- Question-and-answer session with volcanologists Drs. John Bailey (with Google Geo Education) and Matt Patrick (U.S. Geological Survey) about the history and dynamics of volcanoes, along with their personal experiences working at Kilauea;
- Chanting an oli to Pele taught by Nanakuli Elementary immersion school students (see their
YouTube video here);
- Four-mile hike along the Kilauea Iki Crater Trail.
Nanakuli and Keaau are part of a 1-to-1 digital device and curriculum pilot called
Access Learning, which is designed to expand and enrich learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. Learn more here.
Some photos follow. View more on the DOE's
Facebook page here.
Dr. Matt Patrick talks about volcanoes with the Keaau El students. Fastest pyroclastic flow he's ever heard of? 40 miles per hour, at a volcano in Africa in 1977. Kilauea's current lava flow could be outrun on hands and knees.
Dr. John Bailey, broadcasting the trip wearing Google Glass, poses with Keaau El students just before the "E Pele E" oli at the crater rim.
Students and staff enjoyed good weather in the mid 60's at the crater for their hike.