As an early adopter and enthusiast for immersive technology in schools, I’ve had the opportunity to share ways to use augmented and virtual reality to transform learning with educators around the world. I provide staff development and training, and many of the teachers I work with are enthusiastic about trying new tools. For some, it’s the wow factor of using something novel or exciting; for others, it’s the allure of seeing their students highly engaged with new technologies.
But I’ve seen a lot of teachers dive in too quickly, selecting and using a tool without carving out time to think through how to implement it with fidelity. Before jumping into using a particular tool, I’d recommend taking a step back to develop a plan with a defined purpose that aligns with what your students need. Without intentionality, it’s difficult to get the full benefit of immersive technology for your students.
Here are some steps you can take to develop a plan for using virtual reality in the classroom:
1. Identify Your Goals
Starting with your goals is the best way to begin. There are many ways we can get sidetracked and lose focus on a very important question: Why use AR or VR? Are you using the technology to spark new learning interest, teach a new concept or reinforce a difficult one? Understanding what you hope to accomplish will guide your search for the right resources. Unfortunately, this critical step is often an afterthought.
When I ask teachers why they’re using AR or VR, they often tell me they saw an exciting new tool at a conference and found a way to make it work with their lesson plan or that a colleague tried out a tool and mentioned that their students loved it. It’s less common to hear teachers say they’ve selected a tool because they’re teaching content that’s impossible to bring into the classroom without augmented or virtual reality — but that’s when immersive technology makes the most impact.
Sometimes, our students need to learn about a concept that is hard to understand or too dangerous to explore. For example, it would be difficult to observe a coral reef ecosystem in person and it would be challenging to explore the moon’s three main landforms without technological assistance. In these instances, immersive technology can help teachers bypass restrictions and limitations to learning. These lesson illustrations have a clear purpose and goal for using augmented or virtual reality in the classroom.
2. Consider How Your Students’ Needs and Interests Align With Particular Tools
Once you have identified a meaningful goal or set of goals, it’s important to select a tool, but when it comes to using immersive technology, one of the biggest barriers is figuring out where to begin. With new tools being released every day, it’s hard to know where to start and what resources will support your students most. Rarely is there one tool that meets the needs of every student in the classroom. It often takes an assortment of choices or the use of multiple resources throughout the lesson. The key to finding the resource that meets your student’s needs is understanding how they learn best, what interests them and what factors impact their AR/VR experience.
If a student struggles with VR because they get nauseous, for example, selecting a resource with minimal motion is wise. If a student tends to get off …….