Expand Your Bubble Using VR & AR In Your Classroom
According to an article published by Stanford University, “Technology is a game-changer for education- it offers the prospect of universal access to high-quality learning experiences, and it creates fundamentally new ways of teaching” (Schwartz, 2024).
VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) break down geographical barriers and allow students worldwide to collaborate and learn from each other.
VR Tools that can be used in the classroom:
VR allows students to “visit” other countries, which fosters a positive cultural understanding. Some examples of global collaboration could include students having a virtual pen pal using VR classrooms (like we learned in the EdPuzzle) or projects that students from different countries work together with peers to complete.
A simple Google Search can bring you to loads of resources! Here are some examples:
New York Times came up with 8 free VR lesson plans: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/learning/lesson-plans/virtual-reality-curriculum-guide-experience-immersion-and-excursion-in-the-classroom.html
CLASSVR has tons of free downloadable lesson plans, convenient for incorporating VR into your class:
https://www.classvr.com/category/downloads/resources-worksheets-and-lesson-plans/
BY: Ava R.
Works Cited
Spector, Carrie. “How Technology Is Reinventing Education | Stanford Report.” News.stanford.edu, 14 Feb. 2024, news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/02/technology-in-education.
SEL Through WE Virtual Learning Center: How Can YOU Incorporate it in Your Classroom?
The WE Virtual Learning Center website has many resources for you and your students to use in the classroom. Ranging from Service-Learning ideas/lesson plans to lessons about incorporating self-care in your daily life. All of these lessons contribute to SEL (social-emotional learning). As teachers, it’s essential to care about our students as people first and students second; if basic needs aren’t met (social/emotional), students are incapable of being the best learners they can be. So, by using lessons like these, you are strengthening the person and, in return, enhancing the learner.
Take a look at this SEL lesson plan about gratitude:
After clicking “view resource,” the website opens a PDF. The PDF holds 3 lesson plans engaging students in gratitude.
The lesson plans include ways of differentiation, making it more challenging, and even a list of books that can be used for a read-aloud. Overall, this website contains many resources to help students achieve the best versions of themselves.
CLICK THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT TO VIEW THE WEBSITE!
By: Ava R.
Student-Centered Learning With HyperDocs
HyperDocs is an interactive program (Google Doc or Presentation, Drawing, etc.) that follows the typical teaching pedagogy but is all online in one place!
Students’ ability to complete the activities at their own pace makes it easy to adjust to different learning speeds. The level of rigor is also easily adjusted since you can assign different students to different activities. Some HyperDocs even require students to turn and talk with each other, so there is still a communication aspect.
Websites like HyperDocs offer lessons for all grade levels and content areas. You can even choose the language, which makes it a great resource for ELL students.
Click on the image to the left to explore an example HyperDoc that could be used to teach your students about story elements!
This HyperDoc also requires students to have partner discussions, which is excellent because it preserves the social aspect but still uses technology.
These HyperDocs are great for outside and in the classroom! When students are at home, they can get the extra practice they may need to master the curriculum- this is the beauty of student-centered learning.
I also think it’d be a good resource for students in countries without a strong education system, enabling them to get the quality education they deserve.
By: Ava Reynolds
A Virtual Field Trip To San Diego Zoo!
San Diego Zoo and Safari Park offer an array of live cameras in the enclosures of multiple animals.
Some of the live cams that are offered include:
~ Baboon Cam
~ Giant Panda Cam
~ Hippo Cam
~ Burrowing Owl Cams
~Koala Cam
~ And so many more!
You can incorporate the Live Cameras into your classroom in many ways. Here are some examples:
~ As a reward for positive behavior
~ A brain break
~ Incorporating it into any lessons about animals or geography
~ Just for fun!
USE IMMERSIVE READER IN YOUR CLASSROOM
Immersive Reader is a multi-functional reading tool for Windows 10 and Windows 11 software. Some of the Reader’s features include read-aloud, text preferences (to make the fonts bigger or smaller), grammar tools, and different reading preferences (like making the lines focus or even being able to click on a word and find an image).
A prominent student success platform states, “Recognizing and adapting to students’ learning styles is crucial for achieving academic success” (QUADC).
Incorporating Immersive Reader in your classroom during language arts and other subjects can aid every student in many ways. You can give students the resources to adjust their reading to the best format to get the most from the material.
Click on the image to the left to access Microsoft’s product guide for Immersive Reader
To open the Immersive Reader, simply select the text you want to read, right-click, and choose “Open in Immersive Reader” to unlock all the features. Students can even access grammar tools like Syl.la.bles and Parts of Speech. Using these can benefit their reading comprehension- one of the most critical aspects of reading, according to Eastern Washington University.
Check Out This Video to Learn More About Immersive Reader!
Works Cited
Eastern Washington University. “The Impact of Reading Comprehension on Learning.” EWU, 28 Dec. 2022, online.ewu.edu/degrees/education/med/reading-literacy/reading-comprehension-on-learning/.
“Immersive Reader.” Www.microsoft.com, www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/features/immersive-reader?form=MA13FJ.
“Improve Student Success by Catering to Student Learning Styles.” Www.quadc.io, www.quadc.io/blog/improve-student-success-by-catering-to-student-learning-styles.
Make Sure All Your Students Are Represented in Your Library- with the help of CSMCL
Boston’s School of Global Studies states that providing multicultural literature “opens up the world, allowing all students to hear voices both different and similar to their own, both from within their own community and beyond” (Boston.edu).
Finding diverse literature is seamless with the help of CSMCL, the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature, a website that provides educational resources on multicultural literature. Not just any literature, though; CSMCL takes pride in finding books that meet high literacy and artistic standards. Not only do they fund activities for libraries and other services that advocate for diversity, but each year, they release a list of the best books—easy for teachers to utilize.
CLICK THE LINK TO VISIT THE CSMCL WEBSITE
https://www.csmcl.org/
I would use this tool in my class to ensure I have multicultural literature so all my students feel represented. I also would use it to encourage students to learn more about different cultures than the ones they come from. If the school district I work in needs funding resources to achieve a slew of multicultural literature, I could also access that on this website. Overall, I feel this is an excellent resource to promote diversity in and outside the classroom.
Since 2013, CSMCL has composed lists of the top multicultural literature each year. There are hundreds and hundreds of books to choose from!
Works Cited
Brown, Barbara. “A Guide to Selecting Multicultural Literature» African Studies Center | Boston University.” Www.bu.edu, www.bu.edu/africa/outreach/teachingresources/literature-language-arts/selection_guide/.
How Can You Incorporate Collaboration in Your Classroom?
“Benefits of collaborative learning include: development of higher-level thinking, oral communiciation, self-management, and leadership skills,” (Cornell University).
COLLABORATION
Cornell University. “Collaborative Learning | Center for Teaching Innovation.” Teaching.cornell.edu, Cornell University, 2023, teaching.cornell.edu/teaching-resources/active-collaborative-learning/collaborative-learning#:~:text=The%20benefits%20of%20collaborative%20learning.
WAYS YOU CAN INCORPORATE COLLABORATION INTO YOUR CLASS
- Set students in groups (can deliberately set the groups based on personality types)
- Teach students active listening skills
- Assign roles or jobs to each member of the group
- Promote students to socialize with each other through games and other activities
For more information, click the link to read the entire article: https://www.schoolsthatlead.org/blog/positive-public-school-culture
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