Now that Google's Pocket Galleries are accessible to a much wider audience, they make a great interactive supplement for art and history education.

What used to be limited to smartphones is now accessible to anyone with internet access, which means more possibilities for teachers. Teachers can take entire classes on a virtual tour without having to physically take everyone to a museum or gallery. This almost sounds like an alternative to field trips, but it’s not really a replacement for a real field trip. It’s more a way to enhance the experience than to replace it entirely.

"Pocket Gallery is incredibly helpful in filling specific gaps in children's (and adults') experiences and learning," Dr. William Russell, a student recovery and retention specialist, told Lifewire in an email. "This year's second graders have never had a normal, uninterrupted school year. Schools are faced with the need to enhance student experiences and exposure to cultural phenomena without wasting time or misallocating budgeted resources."

Google's Pocket Galleries can serve as an adequate substitute for a real excursion, especially if a museum visit is not possible. They can also be a complement to an excursion. It is true that seeing a digital image is no substitute for seeing something in real life, but a digital image in a virtual space is better than nothing, or perhaps even better than a flat slideshow.