Students embark on digital travels, explore Spanish culture

CAMP ZAMA – Students in Dr. Yeritza Padin’s Spanish Culture class recently engaged in a unique project that allowed them to practice digital skills and think critically while connecting with the world in a relevant and meaningful way.

Dr. Padin teamed up with Zama Middle High School Educational Technologist Dr. Wagner to create a project that took learning to a whole new level, moving students from simple exploration to full-on expeditionary learning.

Instead of just reading about Hispanic countries, students became virtual travelers, each selecting a Spanish speaking country they were interested in visiting and exploring. Then using Google Maps and Street View, they began a digital adventure, discovering famous landmarks, popular destinations, and cultural heritage sites.

“In Spanish Culture class, students focus on understanding traditions, geography, and history of the Hispanic countries,” Dr. Padin said. “This project gave them the opportunity to explore these places virtually, allowing them to engage with the content in a hands-on way while developing key skills in digital literacy, creativity, and communication.”

Dr. Wagner and Dr. Padin showed students how to turn their discoveries into interactive experiences by creating multimedia presentations with Adobe Express. The students added music, images, screen recordings, and even their own voiceovers to make the presentation unique and personal. To make the projects more accessible, students generated QR codes and displayed them on the classroom door, inviting others to scan and experience the virtual journeys themselves.

Dr. Padin and Dr. Wagner shared students loved the project, with many saying it didn’t feel like a “typical” school assignment.

“A lot of them told us it felt like they were actually visiting these places,” Dr. Wagner said. “It wasn’t just about completing an assignment; it was about telling the story of a country through their own voice.”

One important takeaway from this project was the power of hands-on learning.

“Students need opportunities to be explorers, not just note-takers,” said Dr. Padin.

“When they take ownership and create something meaningful, it sticks with them,” added Dr. Wagner.

While engaging with the curriculum through this project, students learned while building curiosity, empathy, creativity, and digital literacy skills.

“This showed us that when you blend language, culture, and technology, magic can happen,” Dr. Wagner said.

“Our students weren’t just learning about the world; they were stepping into it,” Dr. Padin added.