Giving Compass' Take:

• Rachelle Dene Poth reports that augmented and virtual reality tools are becoming popular in the classroom and are enhancing student learning by creating virtual field trips. 

• How can education funders help make augmented and virtual reality tools accessible for all classrooms? 

• Read more about the success of virtual reality in schools.

Augmented (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are becoming more commonly used in our classrooms, with many new tools being added that promote more authentic and immersive learning experiences for students.

As educators, we should welcome these unique tools because they can help with designing more authentic and innovative learning spaces, and are a means to transform “how” students are learning. We can take students on virtual trips and really open a world of opportunities for them to explore.

Why use AR and VR? These tools enable educators to provide powerful opportunities for students to do more than learn through videos or photos. Students can closely explore objects or places, in ways that the traditional tools of textbooks and videos cannot provide. Students have more control in how they are learning and interacting with the content.

4 Tools to Try for AR/VR Explorations

  • Nearpod enables students to experience Virtual Reality through the use of 3D shapes, or go on a Virtual Field Trip powered by 360 cities.
  • Google Expeditions is a free tool that teachers can use to take students on a field trip to virtually anywhere. It is an immersive app that can be downloaded using either Google Play or the App Store, that students view using their devices and a Google cardboard or other viewer.
  • Google Tour Builder is a great way for teachers and even students to be able to create their own tour for use in the classroom or connect with other classrooms globally.
  •  Skype can be a good way to connect classrooms globally and even involve students in problem-solving and critical thinking by using Mystery Skype.

The use of virtual field trips and augmented reality explorations can engage students more in learning and provide opportunities for them to move from consumers to creators.

Read the full article about virtual field trips by Rachelle Dene Poth at Getting Smart.