PED 3119 Blog #4
What possibilities do you see for immersive experiences in your teaching? How could VR, AR and/or games be used to support interdisciplinary learning for primary-junior students? Why? What would that learning look like?
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are two terms that at one time were not linked to education. Today it is not uncommon to see both concepts being used in elementary schools across Canada. There are many opportunities to use VR and AR to influence lessons and offer experiences for immersive education. Personally I see how both VR and AR can benefit students through cross-curricular lesson plans. Here are a few examples:
Using Google Street View to take students to different locations around the world (links to social studies and math)
Using VR Google Cardboard and Google Expeditions to engage in immersive field trips, very beneficial when you are not able to physically take students on a trip
Using AR to help students who have trouble with abstract concepts, helps to make them “come to life” (helps visual spatial learners to be able to see concepts that are normally 2D)
Using VR to experience different cultural arts around the world (ex. concerts in different countries)
Using AR to provide a 3D model of a concept (ex. an element on the periodic table)
There are many opportunities that allow students to see and experience situations they may not be able to and support student learning in a way that was never possible in the past. VR and AR can be used to not only provide a fun experience for students but also to support interdisciplinary learning for primary-junior students. For example, as suggested by Edutopia, you can use Google Street View to help with a descriptive writing task by giving the students a place in the world to write a story about. This is merging geography, science, math (direction) and language arts into one assignment. When students are given a task such as this, they will have the opportunity to integrate technology and touch on a variety of subjects.
In order for these lessons to work the teacher would have to ensure that students could create a final product that outlines a specific expectation. Students will have the opportunity to answer questions after they have had time to use the VR and/or AR technology. When using AR and/or VR it is important to note that for the student to fully benefit they should be actively engaged and using the technology as outlined. This way they can become involved in the learning process rather than just passively listening.
When teachers aim to support student learning while using VR and AR it raises the important concept of embodied cognition. This phenomenon focuses on connecting the mind, body and social world to create learning that will last. Since humans have several senses it is important to find a way to engage students in a full body learning experience. Our learning depends on our emotions, our interactions and how we move in space. Human cognition, therefore, depends on the entire sensory environment along with the actions and feelings that we have in that space, hopefully ending in more concrete long-term memory. When teachers plan lessons that integrate VR or AR they are allowing for their students to have a full body experience in the space that is provided for them. By allowing students to see concepts in 3D or experience a virtual field trip they are using a variety of sense that would not be activated if only looking at a textbook.
Here are some great resources to check out!
Case Study on VR in Education: https://unimersiv.com/virtual-reality-education/
AR New Dimension to Learning: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/augmented-reality-new-dimensions-learning-drew-minock
Even if Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality might seem impossible for you skill set or classroom resources, if you have access to one mobile device you can create immersive learning for your students. Try it when you get the chance, download the following apps!
Enjoy!
Picture References:
AR Phones: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Augmented-reality.jpg provided by https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/OyundariZorigtbaatar
Google Cardboard: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAssembled_Google_Cardboard_VR_mount.jpg Provided by othree (Google Cardboard) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
VR Computer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/30266085832 provided by https://www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/
