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A Box of Fun Things
Out of all the things to be paired with cutting-edge technology, that last thing imagined had to be cardboard. Yet here it is, making education better.
In 2021 smartphones have almost become as common as cardboard has; Google was smart enough to combine the two into an intuitive and enjoyable experience for anyone who tries it. While it is a form of entertainment, this VR, virtual reality, the experience can be a vital tool in the classroom when paired with programs like Google Earth VR.
VR is such a unique experience because the user becomes a part of whatever setting they choose, allowing for someone to get into an intense battle on the ground, swim with fish in an ocean, walk through a haunted house, play a sport; the possibilities are limitless, well for those who can afford it. VR headsets are not cheap, usually ranging from $200+. If they are so expensive, how can they be used in the classroom? Google has the answer, its Cardboard platform, which uses literal cardboard or other cheap materials to create a viewing lense similar to one high tech companies have like iTechArt (New York, USA) or Oculus VR (California, USA). This means the price drops almost 100% to something affordable for say, a whole classroom full of students.
As a soon-to-be social studies educator, it is my job to educate my students on the entire world around them, not just their local community. While these students may never travel outside their state, Google Earth VR allows them to travel any way they want to anywhere they choose. Walk, fly, teleport; however students choose to get somewhere, they are able to immerse themselves wherever they go, which is essential when framing a history or geography lesson. Google Cardboard really helps students with geography because they are able to use their smartphone and virtually walk around anywhere they want, which is way more helpful than staring at a map.
What are you waiting for?
There’s a whole world out there to explore.
Get folding!
Exploring the World from the Classroom
By: Dara Sborea
In this week’s blog, we are exploring VR in the classroom and how it can contribute to successful global collaborations. I chose to research Google Cardboard. To be honest, I had never heard of Google Cardboard before. When I googled it, I thought it would be expensive and out of reach for many teachers and districts. I very happily found out that there are Google Cardboard goggles available for as little as $9 each. I’m sure that if I researched pricing even more, there are bulk price and educational discounts available as well.
There are several apps available to use with Google Cardboard. You can find all these apps on the Google Play Store. With these apps, your students can explore zoos around the world, space, the deep sea, and so much more, without ever leaving the classroom.
Youtube 360 videos are also a great tool for classrooms. They allow students to experience the sights and sounds of areas they may not otherwise have the chance to visit. One great Youtube 360 video I explored that I found fascinating on a personal level was of the Northern Lights in Russia. I have always wanted to visit Russia and I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights.
What are the ways we can use these tools in our classrooms to contribute to successful global collaborations? While thinking about how I wanted to answer this question, there were many ideas swirling in my mind. I thought about my major (French education). I thought about everything I’ve learned in this class (way too many things to list). And I thought about previous blog posts and assignments and what I have focused on in those. So for the purpose of this blog post, I’ve decided to try to pull all those things together.
In previous blog posts, I’ve focused on the SDGs concerning zero hunger and good health and well-being. In those posts, I focused on food; learning French words for food, visiting French farms virtually, class trips to French restaurants. But how does the food grow? And how can we create a successful global collaboration while learning, through the use of VR, how food grows?
Let’s start with how crops are pollinated. Honey bees pollinate 80% of all pollinating plants and more than 130 types of fruits and vegetables. Let’s take a look at a bee’s journey.
With VR, instead of just reading about something in a book, our students can experience it. This gives our students real-time and real-world experience.
So how do we connect something like the video about into being a global collaboration? There are so many options. First, let’s talk about a lesson plan that would incorporate the above VR session.
Ask the students what the bee is doing?
(Turn and talk to your neighbor about what you think the bee is doing.)
Is there anything on the bee? What is that called?
Discuss Vocabulary:
Pollenation
Pollinator
Pollen
Pistil
Stamen
NectarSTUDENT INSTRUCTIONS
Students will turn and talk to a neighbor then answer questions in group discussion. Students will do this using all the French vocabulary they have learned until this point.
In order to incorporate global collaboration, students will Skype with their counterparts in a classroom in France. Those students will have seen the same VR video. At that time, students will begin to discuss the video, and they will also discuss what their respective countries are doing to combat climate change and what they are doing to save the bees, which will have a huge impact on the entire cycle of slowing down climate change.
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