Virtual Reality in the Classroom: The Next Frontier!
We need a high end PC to support our research with VR in the classroom. We are receiving an HTC Vive and already have an Oculus Rift for the classroom.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Isaacs's classroom raised $2,471
This project is fully funded
About My Students
My students are 7th graders in a Game Design and Digital Storytelling course and 8th graders in a Game Design and Development Elective. We are entering year two of a research project looking at Virtual Reality in Education with Foundry10, a research organization focusing on non-traditional approaches to learning. Students are exploring the possibilities of VR through research and hands on activities including exploring VR software and hardware and working on creating their own Virtual Environments to explore and share.
Our class is entering year two of our research on Virtual Reality in the classroom. We have been conducting research on VR and have begun to create our own content to be experienced in Virtual Reality. It has been very exciting and we are looking forward to expanding our in class capabilities as we will be receiving the HTC Vive for use in the research. We were able to test the Vive for two weeks and permanently have an Oculus Rift. The students are becoming immersed (literally and figuratively) in VR and are able to explore the possibilities of this cutting edge technology.
Developing games and other content for VR allows them to work in collaborative design teams, and understand the importance of creating content for an authentic audience. In addition, they are sharing their projects online and through their blogs.
In Their Own Words
For me, an 8th grader growing up in a new world of unbelievable new technology and innovations, I am shocked at the advances in Virtual Reality. Virtual Reality already has helped the world in the medical, construction, and other industries. At my school, most of my classmates have smartphones, and the fascinating part of Fibrum and other VR devices is that you can use any smartphone, from iPhone to Android to Nexus, when experiencing a variety of apps in VR.
We had the HTC Vive in class for 2 weeks and it was incredible. Now we have an opportunity to get one to keep and need a computer powerful enough to run it and allow us to develop content for it. This will really enhance our learning and opportunities to create incredible content!
Recently our class has been able to experiment and play games with the Oculus Rift. Also, in January we were given the opportunity to try out the HTC Vive for a couple of weeks. Many students were fascinated by it and wanted to try it more than once, but the wait for it was very long, and the HTC Vive had to go back. Now that we are getting one to keep along with our Oculus Rift, students in class will have more opportunities to take control of their learning and create virtual worlds to share. We will also be able to work in teams to create content.
Most students have never experienced Virtual Reality. So, they never really grasp how fascinating this new innovation is.With the HTC Vive, students and other members of our school community will get the experience to try VR and experience what we develop. Also, there are things that you may never have a chance to do in the real world, such as parachuting, but in the VR there will be no restrictions to you doing it.
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