Virtual Reality as a Classroom Experience
Virtual reality is a name that is used to describe a three-dimensional, computer-created world or environment that people can interact with. Virtual reality is a great technological tool to use in the classroom. The article, Cultivating New Levels of Student Engagement through Virtual Reality, shares that virtual reality helps with student retention by eliminating the detachment between students and and content through an immersive experience. The students in this article and video (posted below) use Google Earth simulations.
A memorable quote from this video is, “virtual reality… it provides… an experience anchor to the instruction that we can’t duplicate in another way”.
This form of teaching through virtual reality has endless possibilities. A good source for some lessons in teaching with virtual reality can actually be found in this New York Times article called Virtual Reality Curriculum Guide: Experience, Immersion and Excursion in the Classroom. There is a downloadable guide within this article that gives eight lesson ideas.
Virtual Reality is an incredible way to get students actively involved in subject matters if the resources are available. Fortunately, sites such as Google Maps and other virtual field trips are available for free when Internet is available.
Diane Hoffman
The Out of Eden Odyssey
Paul Salopek, a journalist though National Geographic, orchestrated a 24,000 mile journey of journalism. This journey, called Out of Eden, was a ten year long experience where Salopek traveled from Africa on the path of the migration of human life.
In this blog, I will be choosing three magnificent places throughout Salopek’s journey that really caught my attention- the first place being Israel, specifically Jerusalem. Jerusalem holds so much historical beauty, especially in the realm of religion. On this virtual journey, every viewer has the opportunity to take a “walking tour” of Paul Salopek’s pathway through Jerusalem and see his adventure.
The next place on Paul Salopek’s journey that caught my attention was Jordan. Jordan, like Israel, holds historical and religious significance. The specific area within Jordan that held my interest was Gohr Al Safi. This location is featured in the article Shards. Gohr Al Safi is home to the ruins of the Christian Monastery that belonged to Lot, a righteous man of God. This monastery is located at the lowest point of the world: 1,378 feet below sea level. The article shares that there are many mosaic restorers that spend their days trying to piece back together the monastery. This is amazing because it shows that there are people that deeply care about the historical and religious significance of this place and that they hold it in high esteem.
Faridcot, Punjab, India was my third place of interest. The article, Walking Through a Youthful Exodus in India, brings up a very intense issue in rural India- the need for escapism. To my surprise, Salopek shares that most drug abuse in India is in rural communities and that 70 percent of drug abusers come from rural backgrounds. That is certainly not the case in America, as the opioid epidemic is rampant within urban areas and less prominent (but still very existent) in rural communities. Drug abuse is not the only form of escapism that plagues the people of Punjab, the dire yearning to literally escape and leave their country is a relevant form of escapism as well. Tens of students every day would approach Salopek to practice their English skills. This English skills need to be proficient in order for these students to gain visa access and emigrate. This article was very interesting, but it is always disheartening to hear of devastating living conditions and what people in those areas need to do/ feel the need to do in order to escape and be free.
This Out of Eden experience was very informative and incredible. It is always important to be aware of the things that are going on around the world, for these nations, though they are far, are homes to our brothers and sisters. The Out of Eden walk speaks light into culture, social issues, history, and so much more. Check it out for yourself, it is worth it.
Diane Hoffman
Trauma-Informed Classrooms Can Make Educators Changemakers
In the conclusion of Sail the 7 Cs with Microsoft Education by Becky Keene and Kathi Kersznowski , the idea of educators inspiring and being changemakers in the classroom are the main ideas and focus. One way that educators can empower their students, as stated on the WE website, is to have a trauma-informed classroom.
The first step of having a trauma-informed classroom is having the awareness of what trauma is. Trauma stems from an experience that extremely affects a person and may affect their behaviors. In the “Introductory Module Trauma-Informed Classroom” module through WE, some of the signs that a student may be going through a hard or even traumatizing time is:
- Inattention in class
- Poor performance
- Behavioral Changes
The best way that a teacher can help to counteract or fight against students’ trauma responses is through the protective measures that they can take. Teachers can take precautions by providing safe and inclusive environments in their classrooms and teaching social skills and coping mechanisms to their students.
This module was very useful and informative. The module even comes with a workbook that teachers and their students can work on together so that everyone in the classroom can be on the same page. Below will be some screenshots of the workbook.
I will now leave you blog readers with a quote of encouragement that was found in the module, “Protective factors build resilience, which makes someone more likely to adapt to life’s stressors, including the effects of trauma. Protective factors may include… having at least one trusted adult in your life, perhaps someone like a teacher”.
Diane Hoffman
Hyperdocs and their Positive Affect in the Classroom
A hyperdoc is a useful and interactive web tool that is beneficial in any classroom. It is defined as a document or slide presentation that is filled with different links for students to engage with. The most effective part about hyperdocs is that it creates an environment where the students’ learning is put into their own hands. This will help students to know the ins and outs of the subject at hand. This is also a great tool in regards to accommodations for students with differentiating thought processes.
Due to my interest and major being the Spanish language, I researched some Spanish classroom hyperdocs. There are many great resources for educators to use that other teachers have already made and have been successful with in their own classrooms. Here is a link to a great Spanish I hyperdoc that I have found upon research that explores cultural differences in greetings and greeting vocabulary.
Diane Hoffman
Virtual Field Trip to the African Safari
Looking through all the awesome virtual field trip opportunities on Stockton University’s GSDLC website, the African Safari trip seemed like a must for any teacher that desires to share with their students an environment outside of their own.
Africam provides LIVE channels, highlight videos, and beautiful snapshots of creatures in the African safari. The corporation is also involved in raising money to help provide and care for these animals. My favorite feature is the highlight videos because they are very intriguing and can catch students’ attention and get them interested in the subject the teacher chooses to connect with the virtual trip. This website would be great to incorporate within the science classroom to learn about animals, their habitats, and climate. This virtual trip may also be a small step to get students interested in a place and culture different than their own- Africa. These amazing animals could plant the seed for culture studies!
This is one of the beautiful highlight videos captured of an animal from the African safari. It encompasses an animal that students would never be able to see if they only stay within the borders of America.
Diane Hoffman
Subtitulos en Inglés
Being a Spanish major, this assignment stuck out to me. When learning a new language, watching cartoons or other television programs is known to be helpful. All though out my Spanish classes, my teachers would mention the importance of watching Spanish-speaking television programs with subtitles in English, they specifically recommend telenovelas (soap-operas). So, naturally for this assignment, I chose a telenovela called Sangre de mi Tierra. The show takes place in the United States, but the family is originally from Michoacán, Mexico- so cultural differences can still be seen.
Above is the episode of Sangre de mi Tierra that I watched.
Some of the cultural differences reveled in this episode were:
- Greetings: In Hispanic culture and in Sangre de mi Tierra, when one person greets another, it is more intimate than what is typically seen in the American culture. The greetings include cheek kisses and a genuine concern for how the other person is feeling.
- Prayer: In the beginning of the episode a prayer was spoken. The prayer was very joyful, loud, and celebratory towards the Lord. In the American culture, prayers are usually kept more quiet and have less expression.
- Family/Sense of Togetherness: It is known that within Hispanic culture, the concept of immediate and extended family is different. Within the American culture, immediate family is usually one’s parents and siblings, yet in Hispanic culture what the American culture considers extended, the Hispanic culture will treat as immediate. There is a strong sense of togetherness within the family in Sangre de mi Tierra.
- Language: Language is a large part of culture and a more obvious cultural difference. The episode was in Spanish and the leading language in America is English.
Diane Hoffman
Students Being Truly Heard Through Microsoft Translator
Through reading chapter two of Becky Keene and Kathi Kersznowski’s text, Sail the 7 Cs with Microsoft Educator, I have learned about a great tool that can assist students that have struggles excelling in their education due to language barriers- Microsoft Translator. Education is challenging enough just by learning new information. Students that are both learning new concepts and learning a new language can easily become overwhelmed by the amount of information they are absorbing.
The conclusion of chapter two perfectly sums up the purpose of Microsoft Translator when it says, “Not only are they able to understand what they hear, but they are also being heard” (2020). The language barrier can make a key concept of education, communication, very difficult. As teachers and students use this translating tool, they will also be absorbing a new language which can build upon cultural understanding.
This YouTube video shares the different ways Microsoft Translator can be used in the classroom such as:
- Virtual Rooms
- Live Transcripts
- Presentation Translators
- Screen and Device Cooperation
Diane Hoffman
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Peace, justice, and strong institutions is Goal 16 in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. The main website for the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, explains in detail, what these goals entail.
There are many ministries and organizations that are fighting for this justice day in and day out. The beautiful thing about that, is that some are associated with the United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals and others are not- but equally so, they are working towards the same goal. One of the ministries that are fighting for this justice is Agape International Missions. This ministry fights specifically against child sex trafficking in Cambodia. Cambodia used to hold the title of “child trafficking capitol of the world”, but now with this help, they have been moved to the 2-tier watch list in the Trafficking in Persons Report.
This goal encompasses a belief that America claims to stand upon in the Bill of Rights- justice for all. This goal from the UN is a great reminder that can hold our nation accountable in this. Of course, it is also the responsibility of the individual to make sure they are living out a life that is promoting peace amongst their neighbors and looking out for others’ best interests and well-being. Are you doing your part?
Diane Hoffman
Immersion Programs to Improve Language Learning
The Global Educator Toolbox gives educators of any age group access to many tools and programs that they can use to encourage their students to learn outside of the classroom or to use within their classrooms to deeper engage their students in learning. Since I am a Spanish major and have a passion for the language, one of the tools within the Global Educator Toolbox that stood out to me was Concordia Language Villages. The website is easy to navigate and accessible. The Concordia Language Village is an immersion program for any age. The program has 15 languages to choose from. The trips range from one week to a month away in a country that speaks the language of choice. Due to my interest being in the Spanish language, I decided to focus in on that portion of the website.
The time of immersion includes culture studies, sports, activities, songs and dances in the language of their choice. The video below will show what students experience at El Lago del Bosque, the village students will stay at if they choose to learn Spanish.
The Concordia Language Villages also provides virtual courses that range from a week straight of learning over the summer to courses that are once a week throughout a semester. This tool could be great for students interested in taking their language skills to a new level. I definitely recommend that language teachers of any age group check out the website and encourage their students to explore it as well!
Collaboration and Why it Needs to be Intentional in the Classroom
Collaboration is a working practice where individuals work together for a common purpose to achieve a goal or benefit. The education technology textbook, Sail the 7 C’s with Microsoft Education, pinpoints perfectly the importance of collaboration within education when it states, “There are very few jobs that don’t require some degree of collaboration. In fact, most life events hinge on the ability of two or more people to work together. Planning, brainstorming, co-creating, task division, problem solving and sharing are just some of the ways that people of all ages need to collaborate to maximize efficiency” (Keene & Kersnowski, 2020).
This video shares what effective collaboration can look like.
Since teachers are the head of a classroom, it is necessary that they facilitate practical ways for their students to collaborate. Luckily there are some great online and offline tricks and tools for them to be able to make this goal a reality for the classroom.
- Interactive gaming-
- Kahoot! is an interactive game quiz application that has team options that allow students to work together for the common goal of a win
- Minecraft Education Edition helps students to communicate to finish a task
- Small group discussions-
- Zoom is a video conferencing application where teachers can divide their students into smaller groups called break out rooms
- Creative group activities-
- Team-building games– a good introduction to collaboration
- Make up your own fun activities that push students towards teamwork!
- Ex: Each group in the classroom has a picture. There are three students in a group- one is a messenger, one is the speaker, and one is the drawer. The messenger must go to another group in the classroom and look at the picture (pretend the picture is a cow). Without speaking, the messenger must act like a cow. The speaker must give step by step instructions to the drawer on how to draw what the messenger was acting out. Then the drawer draws what they hear. The group with the most accurate picture wins.
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