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| VR and Education |
If I had a dollar for every technology that promised to
revolutionize education, I would be rich (I’ve always wanted to start a post
like this)! But there are many trends
that are taking hold that educational leaders and teachers need to be aware
of. As a classroom teacher for 22 years
now, it can be very easy to fall into the pitfall of the same pedagogical
routine using the same technology, if any, year after year. The argument has been that if it works don’t
fix it…right? But the reality is that
parents and students are demanding more from their classroom experience that we
are providing them. For my private
school colleagues, remember they are also paying customers!
Quality educators are always on the prowl for new and
engaging ways to get students interested in their curriculum. Each year there seems to be a new wave of web
based tools, collaborative options and emerging technologies that offer fresh
possibilities for student engagement. But
it is easy for teachers, already burdened with extra duties, grading and the
rigors of teaching a full class load, to get lost or overwhelmed. My hope is that this will shed some light on
trends that have developed in education recently and new technologies that have
arrived with the promise and possibilities of impacting educational practices. To begin this series, we start with Virtual
Reality, or VR!
Virtual Reality
(VR) and 360 Videos:
One of the most exciting new developments is Virtual Reality
(VR). The basic premise of VR is that it
enables the users to feel as if they were actually in a place all through an
app, cell phone and a VR headset. The
idea is that the camera, which takes video at 360 degrees simultaneously, gives
users the feeling as you look around that you are actually there! To be clear, VR is new…very new and has
limited capabilities right now. But
companies like Discovery Channel, The New York Times, Google, Samsung, Sony,
Microsoft and most recently Apple are spending hundreds of millions of dollars
in developing software and content. This
is not just about games, but educationally driven programs.
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| Google Cardboard VR Headset |
VR comes in a few different varieties. If you like gaming, then you will be pleased
to learn that Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony PlayStation’s 4 all have their own VR
headset and games in development (to be released in 2016). Facebook, not to be outdone, bought the VR
pioneer company Oculus Rift for a cool $2 billion! Although it is considered to be the best VR
experience, it comes with a steep price tag of close to $1000. But those of you who can’t wait for that
release and want a cheaper option can use your own cell phone to get a great VR
experience without breaking the bank.
The more affordable option, available now, is to use your cell phone in
conjunction with a VR headset (which can be purchased online at retailers like
Amazon). Simply place your phone inside
the headset, launch a VR app and you are on your way to a VR experience.
It’s all about those apps!
To help you better understand what’s out there, you first need to
distinguish what these apps actually provide.
Simply, there are 3 types of apps out there for consumers: videos,
simulations, and games. Videos are
actually filmed as a standard movie or show using a 360-degree camera (ex. Discovery
Channel VR). Simulations are just that, computer-generated
videos (ex. Random42 VR – Cell structure simulation). Games are also simulated but with a special
purpose for consumers to accomplish (ex. End Space VR is my favorite!). The price of the apps ranges from mostly free
(I have about 15 free apps on my iPhone) to just a few dollars or less. As this is a relatively new technology,
understand that you get what you pay for.
I’ve noticed that many older apps, those from early 2015 that have not
been updated, tend to be a major let down in quality. Be selective and look for more recent apps
(late 2015 and 2016 apps that have been released or updated). This will give you a better chance to score a
quality app and a VR experience you will love!
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| Samsung VR |
Headsets, using your cell phone, range from $19 to $99. When buying a VR headset, be sure to read
carefully what size phone it can hold (pay attention iPhone 6+ and Galaxy Note
users!). Headsets come in many different
forms. Some have straps that you can
wear without having to hold them up with your hands (a preferred choice) while
others require users to manually hold them up to your eyes. These headsets are made in either cardboard
(cheaper version…Google Cardboard) or more elegant and expensive options made
in plastic. Also note what kind of
cushion they may offer around your face and nose. If you are going to be using this headset a
lot, more padding is definitely preferred!
With so many choices it is important for consumers to fully understand
what they are actually getting for their money.
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| Destek VR Headset |
No headset required!
If you want to explore VR without a headset you can! YouTube offers an amazing collection of “360
videos”. A simple search within your
YouTube app for “#360videos” will yield you a great collection of travel
experiences and more. Simply move your
phone around as you play the video via your YouTube app and it move with
you…like you are actually there!
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| Google VR Experience for Education |
Google’s Expeditions Pioneer Program offers schools a chance
to try out VR in the classroom on a large scale. The program is free and you have to sign up
for the chance to win a visit from the Google team. If you are one of the lucky ones, you get a
complete VR experience brought to your school, courtesy of Google, Google
Cardboard and a slew of great VR apps to try.
The sign up process takes just a few minutes and its completely
free! You can sign up here!
“Will this change education…probably not. But the greatest changes in education really
never come from a device, app or other electronic gadget. Teachers make change happen, teachers change
pedagogy and it will be teachers who decide whether or not VR has a place in
the educational landscape.”
So what can VR really do for you and your classrooms? I’ve probably tried close to 100 apps now on
my iPhone. I’ve traveled to Jerusalem
and toured the Holy Land, I’ve explored parts of the brain, went diving with
sharks, been back stage (and onstage) with presidential candidates on the
campaign trail, seen how war has displaced millions of people, seen the inside
of a human cell, went to a Paul McCartney
and U2 concert (front row and stage view I might add!), visited ground
zero of the Nepal Earth Quake and ongoing efforts to help and was onstage for
Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) 40th anniversary show! All from the comforts of my living room with
my iPhone, a few free apps and a $35 VR headset. Will this change education…probably not. But the greatest changes in education really
never come from a device, app or other electronic gadget. Teachers make change happen, teachers change
pedagogy and it will be teachers who decide whether or not VR has a place in
the educational landscape. But either
way, it sure will be fun to watch and see what happens! Look for my next post of the latest trends and
technologies in education!
Here are a few apps to get you started, headsets to consider
as well as links to articles that highlight what’s happening in this new
industry.
Headset Options:
Amazon
Store Headset Options: There are
more than 100 choices and companies, all ranging in quality, price and certain
phones/features that will fit in the headset (I purchased the Destek and love
it!).
App Options: This
is but a small sampling of apps available now!
Random 42
VR: Explore the human body, its cell
structures and all its connections.
InMind
VR: Game based exploration of the
brain.
Discovery
Channel VR: Highlights from shows like Mythbusters, Survivor Man and more!
NYT
VR: Brings stories to life with
content added monthly
VRSE
VR: Videos from around the world as well as shows (Saturday Night Live)
Universe
VR: Explore our solar system,
comets, planets, and sun.
Cedar
Point VR: Roller Coaster Ride that
will leave you very dizzy.
Star Wars: This 9 mission mini series is a fun VR
experience!
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