Revisiting VR & AR has been on my to do list for a little while. I wanted to take students The Globe Theatre and found so drone footage. I was hoping there might be a visit available? Book on Android I headed over to Google Education products.
Google Expeditions is an immersive learning and teaching tool that lets you go on VR (virtual-reality) trips or explore AR (augmented-reality) objects.
Virtual-reality (VR) tours – Using a mobile devices and VR viewers to virtually explore an art gallery or museum, swim under water.
There are approximately 900 VR tours available. No Globe Theatre tour, but a “The Setting of Shakespeare’s Plays.”
VR in a headset road test
Using an barely used Vizor Pro headset, we went underwater in the Caribbean, visited Mount Everest and New York. We dived with Giant Manta Rays in Mexico in via Youtube 3D 360 video. The video itself is interactive on a tablet device, which in itself impressive, it becomes immersive in the headset.
Freya (9) was impressed by the immersive experience. I can see these “assets” stimulating learning, as a writing prompt or offering contextual awareness.
Harry (Year 7) is researching Viking history this morning and an Expedition of Isle of Lewis in Scotland broadened his contextual awareness.
The Outer Hebrides is a chain of islands off the west coast of Scotland. The biggest islands are Lewis and Harris, which technically is one big island that is separated into two territories. Unlike much of mainland United Kingdom, Roman influence was not felt much in these remote parts. A greater influence was the Vikings, who are thought to have landed here towards the end of the 8th century. There are several large artefacts from that time, from standing stones to statues. But the land itself also plays a huge role in the island’s history, economy, and culture.
Augmented-reality (AR) tours – tours are slightly less immersive, bringing virtual objects into the classroom. Using a mobile devices students can see and walk around 3D objects as if they were physically there. 166 AR tours are available.
I took a look at three tours; Cell Organelles, The Solar System and Modern Art Sculpture and Architecture. Admittedly there were ‘wow’ moments and a sense of being ‘connected’ and experiencing your learning, however, as yet I am not planning on taking this into the classroom or create my own tours, nor are class sets inexpensive.
Downloading the app and signposting tours is straightforward, maybe a ‘marquee’ personal learning / homework task?
This morning* 26.03 Harry (Year 7) was set a Science cell organelle worksheet. I shared with him the cell organelle your. There were some “Woooh!” and “What is that!” It was cool enough to show Grand dad. But in just a few minutes he was back to the PC.