The Immersive Classroom

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Using Immersive Technology in the Classroom by Meredith Barker

    Teachers are tasked with integrating technology in insightful, engaging, and effective ways. With so many technology platforms and resources, finding the right tool to use with your students can be challenging. Recently, I had the opportunity to learn about virtual reality and augmented reality which are two types of immersive technologies. Through reading The Immersive Classroom: Create Customized Learning Experiences with AR/VR by Jaime Donally, I learned these tools can open a whole world of possibilities for engaging your students. When using augmented reality in the classroom, students perform at higher levels (AlNaidi, 2022, para. 1). If you are looking for a technology tool to try this year, these are two excellent tools that can bring your classroom to life in new and exciting ways!


AR vs. VR: What's the Difference? 


    Virtual reality completely transforms the area around you through 360-degree video and sounds using a device or VR headset (Donally, 2021, p. 6). Using VR you can "travel" across the world to Paris to watch the Olympics while sitting in the comfort of your classroom.


    reality explores "the real world while adding a digital later on top that gives the illusion that they have a 3D object" (Donally, 2021, p. 6). Using AR, you can bring your class read aloud to life by "adding" the book characters into your classroom-- your students can "sit" next to who they are reading about! 



Want to see the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality? Watch below! 





AR and VR in the Classroom

    I have the opportunity to teach at a highly diverse school. In any given class we have students from around the world. This is one of my favorite things about my school. We learn from one another, experience different cultures, and share our own. Although this makes for an incredible learning environment, it can make finding commonalities between students when picking read-aloud books or project topics difficult. I want all students to have the same starting place with the assignments. For example, I will not assign a writing assignment about a day at the beach because all of my students have not been to the beach, making that an unfair assignment. After learning about virtual reality I cannot wait to bring it into my classroom to allow all my students to experience traveling around the world.


Below are a few ideas of how you can use virtual reality in your classroom:

VR in the Classroom by Meredith Barker       



    Augmented reality can bring your classroom to life in many ways. AR can "connect knowledge with actual exercises"(AlNaidi, 2022, para. Conclusion 1). Students can use AR to create characters to insert into their classroom! You can also insert the solar system into your classroom and walk around it to learn about the different planets! AR is another vital tool for student learning and engagement. 


Check out more ways to use AR in your classroom below:

AR in the Classroom by Meredith Barker   


Click here for a list of grants to help you purchase your own virtual reality headsets for your classroom! 




References: 

AlNajdi SM. The effectiveness of using augmented reality (AR) to enhance student performance: using quick response (QR) codes in student textbooks in the Saudi education system. Educ Technol Res Dev. 2022;70(3):1105-1124. doi: 10.1007/s11423-022-10100-4. Epub 2022 Apr 4. PMID: 35400977; PMCID: PMC8978775.

Donally, J. (2021). The immersive classroom: Create customized learning experiences with AR/VR. International Society for Technology in Education. 


Comments

  1. Kellie IngramJuly 30, 2024 at 7:01 PM

    Thank you for sharing your post! I enjoyed reading about these two new exciting tools! VR and AR are two great tools that could help student learning in new and exciting ways! Very soon, most classrooms will adopt virtual reality and augmented reality technology to simulate objects and environments, which will help children learn (Wilkinson,2023). I really like the way you stated that you want all your students to have equal starting points. Assignments should be inclusive and relatable to all students, but in a diverse classroom, this can be difficult. I think VR will be a great tool to use for this! Great thinking!

    References:
    Wilkinson, N. (2023a, August 17). Virtual reality and augmented reality in the classroom. eLearningInside News. https://news.elearninginside.com/virtual-reality-and-augmented-reality-in-the-classroom/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laken RoperJuly 30, 2024 at 8:37 PM

    Your blog really captivated my attention! VR and AR are tools that seem to be so fun, but finding ways or the time to integrate them into the classroom seems challenging; however, you mentioned and suggested great ways to do this! While AR and VR technologies offer exciting possibilities for enhancing student engagement and learning experiences, educators should be mindful of potential challenges when implementing them. These include managing cognitive load, providing appropriate scaffolding and reflection opportunities, and addressing equity issues in diverse classrooms. As Makransky and Petersen (2021) suggest, immersive learning experiences should be accompanied by instructional support to maximize their educational value. By considering these factors, teachers can more effectively harness the potential of AR and VR to create meaningful learning experiences for all students.
    Reference:
    Makransky, G., & Petersen, G. B. (2021). The cognitive affective model of immersive learning (CAMIL): A theoretical research-based model of learning in immersive virtual reality. Educational Psychology Review, 33, 1379-1401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09586-2

    ReplyDelete

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