Imagine how different your learning experience would’ve been if you could hold a beating heart when learning about anatomy, walk through the solar system when learning about planets, and take a trip to Australia to see a Kangaroo. Only Ms. Frizzle could take her kids on these trips in the Magic School Bus. Now today’s students can have similar experiences to Ms. Frizzle’s class.
Virtual and augmented reality are changing the way students learn and teachers teach. Teachers can enhance their lessons and get students more involved. Technology isn’t going away so students should learn how to leverage it responsibly. Here is some advice for harnessing the technology teachers have from a district-level technology coordinator.
- Work with what you have – Get started by using the devices already in the classroom such as Chromebooks, PCs, laptops, and mobile devices.
- Collaborate with school leaders to figure out learning goals – Look at the standards, students’ expectations for their future, and the future skills they’ll need. Teachers, principals, and administrators need to collaborate so they can bring in AR and VR technology that suits everyone’s needs.
- Pick multi-platform tools that adapt for all ages – look for tools that cover all subjects, grade levels, and skill levels. Products that also work across multiple platforms is also a plus.
- Give students ownership – Students should create the digital content they are observing the VR and AR so they can take their learning and customize it in a way that works for them. They can also see how it applies to their life.
- Find the right balance – Teachers should identify where students struggle and how VR can help bridge their learning gap. Then they can determine how long students should be using the devices.
If you need help finding the right VR and AR solution for your customer or need more information about how VR and AR help in the classroom, contact your DSC Account Manager or comment below. We’d love to help!
Source: Education Week
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