YouTube 360 videos enhance global collaborations by giving unforgettable experiences that span across the world. They enable individuals from all over to virtually experience places together, creating a sense of shared experience and promoting collaborative activities in areas such as education, culture, science, and entertainment. They also provide opportunities for global knowledge and empathy by allowing users to encounter diverse perspectives and realities directly. This can lead to improved communication, collaboration, and creativity among individuals and organizations around the world.

Ways to Incorporate in a Lesson Plan

A Great resource to find fun virtual reality lesson plans to incorporate within your classroom is this article; “Virtual Reality Curriculum Guide: Experience, Immersion and Excursion in the Classroom” By Travis Feldler and Natalie Proulx, which was published in the New York Times. I am sure we can all relate to learning about the solar system in elementary school and that is why the lesson plan “A Mission to Pluto” stood out to me. This lesson plan begins with students listing facts they know about Pluto and making predictions about what it would be like to visit. During the mission, they watch a YouTube 360 video titled “Seeking Pluto’s Frigid Heart” (which I will link below) to observe its unique characteristics. Afterward, they discuss their observations and compare them to their predictions. They also reflect on the similarities and differences between Pluto and Earth and explore insights into the universe. To bring the lesson to an end, the students will then create original drawings that include key information about Pluto based on what they learned.

How does this Encourage Successful Global Collaborations?

This lesson plan promotes worldwide collaboration by using YouTube 360 videos to create a true sense of exploring Pluto. Students from all around the world can engage in the same educational experience thanks to virtual reality technology, which encourages cooperation and shared learning.

Citations

Feldler, Travis, and Natalie Proulx. “Virtual Reality Curriculum Guide: Experience, Immersion and Excursion in the Classroom.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/learning/lesson-plans/virtual-reality-curriculum-guide-experience-immersion-and-excursion-in-the-classroom.html.