There’s been a lot of talk lately about virtual reality and integrating it into the classroom. Is it all lip service or is there any substance behind this new type of immersion learning? While virtual reality or VR may seem a little Back to the Future Part II, its benefits make it deserving of a closer look. It can take students places they’d never be able to go in reality – an African jungle, the solar system and back in time to the creation of planet Earth.
Yet, some administers are still getting pushback from those that think VR is a silly idea. So we came up with some ideas to get teachers, parents and students on board with VR.
Teachers
Introduce this technology to the teachers in your school who are eager to experiment with new technology. Once they apply it in their classrooms and see how awesome it is for students, they’ll start to share their knowledge with their peers.
Remind teachers that technology is the future. Did they ever think Chromebooks would replace paper and pencils?
Put together a quick presentation via Slides or PowerPoint outlining VR’s benefits. Be sure to highlight these attributes:
VR allows students to travel all over the world without leaving the classroom.
VR helps develop empathy as students can personally witness communities in crisis.
VR enables students to experience different careers through the eyes of a surgeon, soldier or other professional fields.
VR allows students to explore the human body and see how our anatomy works.
Students can create and share their own VR content.
It promotes curiosity and wonder.
Parents
Ask teachers to demonstrate this tech to parents during conferences and other one-on-one meetings and school events. Set up the machine so parents can use it themselves.
Encourage students to describe this tech to parents. Since students can create and share their on VR experiences, make it a project for students to give as a presentation for parents.
Add VR field trips to parent newsletters. “This week our fourth-grade class is traveling to the International Space Station. No permission slip required.”
Students
VR education is new and exciting and students will naturally want to be a part of it. Many teachers recalled seeing that spark and excitement the first time a student goes to Jupiter or learns about pollination by getting up close and personal with flowers and bugs.
Students like have already had an experience with VR through VR games and VR headsets. VR ed tech is just another extension of the technology they’re already familiar with.
Virtual reality not only helps students keep up, but stay ahead in a world that’s learning faster every day. Contact us to see how we can help put this new technology into your teachers’ hands.