Virtual Reality for Virtual Learning

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 Learning with virtual reality has hit a small snag in the hybrid and virtual learning scenario, getting kids access to materials necessary to engage in immersive experiences.  During hybrid experiences, kids see headsets, and their excitement peaks, but unfortunately using them is not necessarily conducive to safety in the current pandemic environment.  Despite this, virtual reality still provides incredible opportunities for learning and also amazing opportunities for opening up possibilities to future pathways in the world.  Virtual Reality remains a critical technology for industry and enterprise as companies move into the virtual world.  




Two major challenges are what to do with headsets now, and how we can access virtual experiences at home.  One of the gateways for many kids and teachers into the world of virtual reality has been Google Expeditions.  Expeditions was created as a way to bring kids into learning through VR and immerse them in the environment they are learning about. While it is a great intro and a fantastic opportunity to experience places far and wide, large and small, it lacks one of the most meaningful pieces of engaging in virtual reality: Creation.  That was until Google added Tour Creator, which not only enhanced the value of Expeditions, but also gave new purpose to kits previously used for that purpose.  

One of the best things about Expeditions is that it works without a headset.  That is excellent for general accessibility but even more so now.  Unfortunately, Tour creator is going away. With that, virtual field trips, creativity in Google Expeditions, and more are losing tremendous functionality.  One of the best ways to introduce VR and creativity within VR is going to be phased out.  But, thanks to a genius idea from Reality Bytes Co-Author, Micah Shippee, there is a new hope.

Shared originally on the Ready Learner One blog, you can easily create a VR space that includes Video, 360 images, full virtual models, and more.  The details are the process are laid out on for you, but the value cannot be understated. Not only does this allow you to use Hubs in a new way that brings the world to your students, but it repurposes technology that perhaps would previously be unusable.  Hubs is accessible through nearly any device and does not collect identifying user data, allowing it's users to login anonymously.  This makes it an ideal opportunity to bring fresh new virtual field trips to life.  It takes Expeditions a step further however, in that students who are experiencing content virtually can now interact and have meaningful class discussions about what they see. 


It is a challenge to find new ideas that are accessible to the average teacher at times. This however is one that is exciting and passes all the litmas tests for brining VR to the average classroom. 

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