Virtual Reality allows children and adults of all ages to feel as if they are in a different world. The Gear VR goggles has a strap that wraps around the head, so people can experience the new virtual life. There are also foam pieces that prevent light from seeping in to give the true outer life appeal. More than one person can also participate in playing games, which are known as party rooms. To add, there are also controllers that go with the goggles and they are used to fight off monsters, help you move around, and make the experience feel real.
There is a pair of goggles that are a branch to the Gear VR, and they are called Oculus Rift. These goggles connect to a person’s laptop or desktop when playing different types of games and apps. The bigger dash and screen allows other people to see what is happening at a bigger view. The wide span view gives the player a bigger eye span on what is happening in the unknown world. This pair of goggles has the same exact features as the Gear VR, except that this brand pairs with Google Earth.
Google Earth allows the player to walk, fly and, browse the world. Some places that are included within this app would include Switzerland, Rome, Arizona, Nevada, etc. Partners can travel and play together and see the beautiful sights. I would love to travel around the world and stay in the same spot all at once. It would be an amazing opportunity and I am brainstorming many ideas on how I would incorporate virtual reality into my classroom. Students can also play with each other and I could log onto to Skype and skype others from around the world who also use virtual reality in their classroom. Since we can see Switzerland, I would if they could see where we are.
As a future teacher, I would include virtual reality into my classroom because it would enhance my lesson plans, engage the students, and allow them connect the lessons to these different experiences. Creativity is very important and this would encourage the students to go out of their comfort zone and enjoy themselves. Problem solving and critical thinking would also be demonstrated throughout each use of the goggles.
My degree will also show that I will be Middle School Science certified when I start my career. These goggles and Google Earth would allow me to take my students on virtual field trips, explore science and the world’s geology, and help them build different communication and collaboration skills. If I were to teach my students about Animal Adaptation, like I have mentioned in my previous lesson plan, the students would be able to look deeper into Africa and get the feel for if they were actually there. While using the dash and desktop, other students would be able to see what the student was seeing.
The fourth Sustainable Development Goal is titled Quality Education and my students would be able to work inclusively with this new form of technology. They would all be able to engage and learn the information together. Each child would receive the same amount of education and partake in this experiment with the virtual reality experience.
Link to Google Earth using Oculuc Rift video