VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL ) -- The students at Scintilla Charter Academy in Valdosta are getting up close and personal with the things they're studying, all thanks to Google.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to thousands of different underwater creatures, and with the help of new virtual reality technology... a dozen students from Lowndes County.
"You get to look at lots of animals you don't usually get to look at in real life," said fourth grader Rahi Patel.
Google Expeditions takes the lesson out of the textbook by letting students feel like they're actually in the environment they're studying.
With more than 400 different locations, students may come to school in one place, but they can go on field trips all over the world.
That's something teacher Stephanie Brock says can go a long way in getting kids engaged in what they're learning.
"The kids want to come to school and learn. They get really excited, and they get that much more involved," said Brock.
Google Expeditions gives 360-degree panoramic views so as the kids move, the environment moves with them.
Teachers can monitor what each student is looking at on a tablet, and the program provides facts about what everyone is seeing.
"It is an enhancement to any subject, any grade level. It just brings so much excitement and knowledge to the lesson that you're already doing," said Brock.
For those who get to use the new technology, they say the device gives you a view of the world every student should get to see.
"I think they should get the experience to do it too so that they can learn more about animals and habitats and how they live," said Patel.
For more information on Google Expeditions, click here.
