I explored several different virtual tours for this Sandbox. I travelled the globe from Amsterdam to Antarctica. I revisited exhibits in museums I had seen before and others I had not. I visited parks, historic cites, and libraries. For this assignment I chose to look closely at two different virtual tours. The first was from the required list and was about Iceland. The second was on the northern lights and featured images captured in Russia.

Google Arts and Culture explored various aspects of Iceland (n.d.). I enjoyed scrolling through images of the capital city with its images of brightly corrugated metal roofed homes (better to withstand the harsh weather conditions) and its lichen covered lava rocks. There were interesting facts and figures sprinkled throughout the tour. It was fun to poke around and explore but I thought the AirPano tour in Russia (2021) was much easier to navigate. It offered smart features like a hiker icon to show you where to go next in the tour. If you doubled back there was a check mark over the icon to let you know you’d already been there. There were similar features in the thumbnail photos on the right edge of the screen and on the navigation bar at the bottom. It was impossible to get lost or miss an image. I was often frustrated by the Google Arts and Culture tour (n.d.). It didn’t offer the same kind of feedback. I imagined it would be harder for younger grades to navigate.

And as much as I enjoyed the photos and information on Reykjavik, the fjords, volcanoes, and waterfalls of Iceland it never got into what I really wanted to see and learn about – the northern lights. I was disappointed that the Google Arts and Culture virtual tour (n.d.) did not have any images or information about them. I have always wanted to see the northern lights. I remember distinctly the first time I heard they existed. I’d been assigned Iceland as the topic of a geography research assignment in 5th grade. I was disappointed at first. I’d never heard of a country called Iceland. I asked my father – how interesting could a country made of ice actually be? Very interesting it turned out. I clearly remember sitting in the Kanawha County Public Library in Charleston, WV meticulously filling out note card after note card, one side with my reference, the other with a fact about Iceland. I was amazed by their literacy rates, low crime, volcanoes, and their heat source. And then I learned about the northern lights. It sounded like science fiction, or better yet, magic. I went home and told my brother all about them. For many years we talked about going to see them together. Geographically we weren’t too far away for us to conceivably see them. Economically and psychologically, however, they were light years away from us. They became a big ticket bucket list item for both of us. We had plans to see them together (ideally while sleeping in an ice igloo).

Twice I have planned trips, researched hotels, and been on the verge of booking a flight to Iceland only to have the trip thwarted. Once because of a personal loss. Then again when the pandemic struck and international travel was not possible. Someday I will see them. But until then virtual tours of Iceland and other areas where you can see the aurora borealis will have to suffice. You too can enjoy the ethereal beauty and breathtaking colors of the northern lights by scanning this QR Code:

I used QR Tiger to create the QR Code. It was simple and easy to use. After looking through all of the QR code generators I chose it simply because I liked the color choices. I was able to select purples and greens that blended together and echoed the gorgeous hues in the lights from the photos of the Kola Peninsula in Russia (Rumyanstev & Semenov, 2021). I also liked the diamond shaped pattern within the code. They felt like stars and I thought it played nicely into my theme. I appreciated that I could so easily take a link or photo and personalize it. Most of the QR codes I’ve scanned with my phone or have seen on menus or signs are simple black and white. I recognize the concept of keeping it clean and simple but for a blog post like this with no other source of color to draw the eye I wanted something that would really pop.

I love the concept of layered reality. It feels like it is something we live with every day and are so familiar with we don’t even know it is there. Like a shadow or a taking a breath. We take things like virtual tours, QR codes, and immersive events like Imax theatres for granted. To my teenage children they are as commonplace as email or phones without cords. I imagine I will use these forms of layered reality in the classroom without even thinking about it on many occasions. But, I will also use them with intent. I love the idea of generating QR codes for book recommendations, curated “If you like this, try this” lists, book clubs, or required reading lists. I would very much enjoy leading students through virtual field trips of historic places and settings. I imagine showing my students Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre or Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top Farm. I was riveted while reading about the work that went into StarLab (Hager, 2019). All I could think was, “How do you get your library on that list?” Who could imagine a popup planetarium in your school gymnasium or library ten years ago? Just imagine where the technology will be in ten more years. I was deeply moved by the story of Jasmine at Sebasticook Valley Middle School (Double Robotics, 2015). I’ve spent the last few week working as an IA in a special needs classroom. Our students are in middle and high school and most are nonverbal. We have a lot of communication devices that allow us to meet basic needs like providing snacks, water, or toileting. But the robot Jasmine used is next level. It was heartwarming to see not only access to education for Jasmine, but the access the other students had to her. It is so important for different school populations to know and understand each other. Virtual Reality is also fascinating. I found myself googling “How to write a grant” after reading the Young article (2020). I would love to create lessons and experiences that allowed my students to experience such first hand technology without leaving your library. I grew up in such a constrained, small place. Leaving the state felt exotic. Students today can explore the galaxy, skim across a coral reef, or visit another continent without batting an eye. With the technology today the world is available to explore!

References

Double Robotics. (2015). Case study Sebasticook Valley Middle School + Double Robotics [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aln1V0rtCkEYouTube

Google Arts and Culture (n.d.). Iceland [Virtual tour]. Retrieved July 15, 2022 from https://artsandculture.google.com/story/gQWhgZTLOgW0qQ

Hager, J. (2019, February, 14). StarLab makes its way to Richmond County schools. Richmond Daily Journal. https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/85221/starlab-makes-its-way-to-richmond-county-schools

Rumyantsev, S. and Semenov, S. (2021, April 9). Northern lights on the Kola Peninsula. [Virtual tour]. AirPano. https://www.airpano.com/360photo/aurora-murmansk/

Young, L.J. (2020, April 7). Get the most from AR/VR technology without breaking the budget. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/get-the-most-from-ar-vr-technology-without-breaking-budget-library