To showcase Virtual and Augmented Reality and their connection with global collaboration, I used “CoSpaces Edu.” I believe “CoSpaces Edu” is a beneficial Virtual and Augmented tool to promote international cooperation in the classroom. “CoSpaces Edu” has many uses other than just global collaboration as well. In this blog post, I will discuss the several beneficial applications for “CoSpaces Edu” and the connection to international cooperation.
What is “CoSpaces Edu”?
“CoSpaces Edu” is a Virtual and Augmented Reality platform that allows users to create 3D images. Students can bring their 3D pictures to life while learning to use “block-based coding” (CoSpaces Edu, 2022) from any device. “CoSpaces Edu” has been chosen by almost 300,000 educators. Educators can create their accounts and classrooms and then invite their students to join them. This feature allows teachers to keep track of students as they progress.
Key Features
- Block-based coding, with lessons for beginners.
- A 3D creation toolkit.
- A Virtual Reality feature.
- The Augmented Reality feature.
- The classroom dashboard.
- “CoSpaces Edu” can be used on multiple devices.
- Tablet
- Computer
- Smartphone
What are the Educational Benefits?
“CoSpaces Edu” allows students to develop “digital literacy and 21st Century skills.” (CoSpaces Edu, 2022) These skills will help students prepare for their lives in the “outside world” after school. “CoSpaces Edu” will also empower students to become “content creators.” (CoSpaces Edu, 2022) Teachers can assign quality lessons that will be fun and engaging for students within their content knowledge. “CoSpaces Edu” encourages creativity among students in a personalized learning experience. Students can develop critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills through “CoSpaces Edu.”
Other Key Benefits
- Allows teachers the opportunity to connect the material with an engaging lesson.
- Brings technology into the classroom that helps add a “new dimension to learning.” (CoSpaces Edu, 2022)
- “CoSpaces Edu” uses immersive technology to enable “multi-sensory embodied learning.” (CoSpaces Edu, 2022)
- This platform helps students understand “abstract concepts through 3D visualization.” (CoSpaces Edu, 2022)
- Encourages collaboration between students.
How Does “CoSpaces Edu” Partner With Global Collaboration?
“CoSpaces Edu” is an essential tool in a teacher’s “Global Collaboration” tool kit. I found two articles through “CoSpaces Edu” with two examples of “Global Collaboration.” The articles I discovered are “Launching a Worldwide Student Project” and “Exchanging Virtual Tours with CoSpaces Edu.” These examples showcase the connection between this platform and the uses for “Global Collaboration.”
In “Exchanging Virtual Tours with CoSpaces Edu,” students who were a part of the “Erasmus+ Project KA229: TechnoLingua Empathic Minds (2020-2022)” (Koehler, 2022) exchange virtual tours or their respective hometowns with each other. These students were part of an exchange program between Spain and Germany. Students worked in groups to research aspects of their hometowns to create virtual tours. The virtual tours were a creative way to familiarize students with the countries they would visit beforehand. Another purpose of this “Global Collaboration” project was to establish “communication between students from different countries.” (Koehler, 2022)
“Launching a Worldwide Student Project” is similar to the previously mentioned article. In October 2019, students globally participated in the project “What is on Your Virtual Plate.” For several months schools across the globe created an AR program “representing what they eat.” (Hentsch, 2019) This project connected “students around the world without the barrier of physical distance.” (Hentsch, 2019) One of the main goals of this project was to “trigger conversations about what all students around the world” about their differences and similarities.
Conclusion
Educators around the world can use AR and VR platforms to communicate with students around the world. Programs such as “CoSpaces Edu” are essential in global conversations. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality give a creative and engaging way to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
References
https://cospaces.io/edu/rationale-admin.pdf
Edu, C. (n.d.). CoSpaces Edu. Retrieved from Stem & Coding: https://edu.cospaces.io/Universe/StemHentsch, C. F. (2019, October 9).
Launching a worldwide student project. Retrieved from CoSpace Edu Blogs: https://blog.cospaces.io/launching-a-worldwide-collaboration-student-project-3c11c37fa637Koehler, T. (2022, November 16).
Exchanging virtual tours with CoSpaces Edu. Retrieved from CoSpaces Edu Blog: https://blog.cospaces.io/exchanging-virtual-tours-with-cospaces-edu-1e682c497407