GoPro camera documents trip to Turkey

The best learning environment isn’t always in the classroom: It’s frequently out in the field. And UB faculty members are using the latest technology to document that time in the field to enhance the student learning experience.

Students from Don McGuire’s “Global Cities in the 21st Century, Istanbul” course traveled to Turkey in January for a firsthand educational experience. While this year’s trip wasn’t the first time McGuire’s class has visited Turkey, it was the first time the journey has been documented with a GoPro camera.

“The experience my students get in Turkey cannot simply be taught through a textbook,” says McGuire, coordinator for undergraduate initiatives for the College of Arts and Sciences and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Classics. “It’s a nicely integrated curriculum. The students’ jaws drop the entire trip.”

The trip began with four days of basic introduction to the city of Istanbul, followed by an eight-day journey across western Turkey to explore modern and ancient cities. Afterward, the group returned to Istanbul for another eight days.

At the suggestion of J. Brice Bible, vice president and chief information officer, McGuire documented his trip with a GoPro to accurately capture the experience.

“I’m very grateful to UB Information Technology for making the technology available,” McGuire says. “I think one of the best sites that we filmed was an archaeological site called Assos, which has a Greek temple from the 6th century BCE. It is set on top of a hill, looking across the Aegean to the Greek island of Lesbos just a couple of miles away. It is truly spectacular,” he says.

“Also, in terms of interior shots, the great Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia, which is now a museum, turned out well.”

The dynamics of the GoPro made it the best technology choice for the trip, according to McGuire. “It is so convenient for capturing voice and vision. It’s much easier to handle than a camera or microphone,” he says. “It’s also really useful for recruiting students into these programs.

“Innovative technology is essential for students to achieve academic success,” McGuire says. “The GoPro is a new form of technology not yet implemented into the mainstream educational system. The more we can do to bring GoPros into the classroom, the better off UB is.”