After being in education for almost 9 years I have constantly had students come up to me after a holiday to Uluru explaining how amazing it is. It is one of those destinations that I’ve always wanted to visit but just haven’t got there yet. Well today I had the most amazing tour of the incredible site and you can too. All from the comfort of your own home, office chair or train seat on your way home from work. 

Google Earth and Google Street View have made viewing places around the world so much easier. I don’t think you could meet a person that hasn’t looked up their own house on Google Earth and Google Street View. Google has recently released a series of guided tours through Google Story Sphere. Here you can take guided tours of amazing sites around the world, one of these being Uluru.

In an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald, McLeish explains that ‘The service offers 360 degree panoramas from various vantage points around each site, in what are like dynamic brochures for curious parties and potential visitors, who are probably many kilometres away.’ The documentary that has been put together by Google has taken over two years to complete. Over this time they have ensured that the local Aboriginal people of that particular country have had maximum input in the content that is being delivered. You can also be assured that there will be no ads popping up to ruin your experience as Google has been quoted in saying that they wanted to document the ‘cultural heritage’ of the area. You can access Google Story Sphere by clicking the link attached to the title.

This excellent initiative has allowed primary school teachers in Sydney access to one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The implications for the classroom are out of this world and once again shows us exactly how technology is enhancing the learning experience in schools today.

Tony Cross
eLearning – Wyvern House and Lindfield Preparatory School