Exploring Endangered Animals and Ecosystems through VR!
Help me give my students a Meta Quest 2 to experience virtual reality field trips of endangered ecosystems.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Trickey's classroom raised $505
This project is fully funded
My Project
The updated science standards now specify that students can explain how an environmental change may affect the ability of a population to survive and how populations may adapt over time in response to changes in the environment. In 2020, I received an REB Award for Teaching Excellence grant and have been taking part in an expedition to various North American environments on the “Red List” of endangered ecosystems as identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature during winter and spring breaks to film in 360 degrees using my GoPro MAX. Highlights have included traveling to interior Alaska, where I hiked on a glacier and went dog mushing, and to the Everglades, where I saw alligators by fan boat in their natural hunting environment. I am now in the process of turning the raw footage of my travels into free, high-quality virtual field trips easily accessible for all teachers and students on YouTube.
Although students can access these field trips on their Chromebooks, virtual reality is, unsurprisingly, best experienced using a device specifically made for virtual reality, like a Meta Quest 2.
Students at the four schools I support will watch the field trips that I create using the YouTube VR application to enhance science instruction; with one device, this would be best done as a station. Additionally, our Language Arts curriculum is based on science and social studies content, so the headset could be used to spark ideas that stretch beyond the scope of what I create through the available free VR content. Ultimately, I want to utilize fully immersive technology to help students fall in love with nature, even if they can’t get there themselves. Using the Meta Quest 2 will show students what we risk losing and hopefully encourage them to become environmental stewards!
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Trickey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
