The Educational Potential of Augmented Reality I’m not sure about you, but watching my neighborhood—OK, the entire world—become obsessed with the augmented reality (AR) game Pokémon Go, I knew I had better do some serious research into AR’s implications and applications. Virtual vs. augmented Sportvision Unlike virtual reality, which offers the user a 360-degree view of an artificial world, augmented reality superimposes an image, video or some other digital overlay onto our view of the real world in real time. Magic Leap Since AR enhances the information we can perceive with our senses, like a virtual dinosaur sprouting out of text on the Mesozoic Era, it often immerses users into the experience in a way that makes learning more meaningful. Potential applications of AR According to a survey this past June by Samsung, most educators agree that it is difficult to keep students engaged, and believe AR and VR will increase motivation and understanding of learning concepts. Imagine this: a librarian creates AR for a book display. Arloon
Amazon Pushes Echo Smart Speakers on Campus In Amazon’s latest push into education, the tech giant is encouraging colleges to experiment with its Echo smart speakers and add the devices to their curricula. The company is working with Arizona State University, for instance, where it gave 1,600 Echo Dots to engineering students living in a new dorm called Tooker House. “ASU’s main motivation was to develop an opportunity for its engineering students to gain skills in voice technology, an emerging field,” says John German, an ASU spokesperson. The engineering school at ASU has added "a little bit" of voice technology to the curriculum of three existing courses this semester, German said. However, the students who received the Echo Dots will "not at all" be required to take these courses. The Amazon Alexa team “met frequently” with the university, and “offered advice,” says John Rome, ASU’s deputy chief information officer. The company has been encouraging developers of edtech software to add support for their smart speakers as well.
Immersive Learning: How AR/VR is the Next of Generation of Learning Extended reality is no longer just for out-of-this-world sci-fi movies. Virtual reality has made major strides in the past 20 years, and with augmented reality and mixed reality being used more often in real-world applications, the technology is becoming more versatile than ever imagined. The future of learning and workplace training is connected to immersive learning technology. As technology becomes more ubiquitous and affordable, several types of immersive tech or extended reality (xR) are becoming accessible to educators and companies. How is xR being used in the world? Augmented reality, or AR, is a type of software used on a smart device, such as a tablet, smart eyeglass or smartphone. Here’s an example of AR used at a hospital in California to help aid a young patient before a medical procedure: Mixed reality, or MR, is a lesser-known term. Here’s an example of mixed reality from Microsoft Visual Studio: Virtual reality, or VR, takes this process a step further. Mariel Cariker
Virtual Field Trips Virtual reality offers real rewards in education | District Administration Magazine In four Utica Community elementary schools in metro Detroit, students as young as 10 manipulate and pull apart the organs of the body, build roller coasters, and design and test 3D prototypes. The students wear 3D glasses on their heads; in their hands, they hold specialized styluses to maneuver digital objects projected in space in front of them. The students can twist, turn and take apart the objects—even a virtual human heart. The roller coaster program, for instance, lets them change the gravitational pull in their virtual world and tweak their designs so the cars and the tracks provide a thrilling, if imaginary, ride. It’s an immersive experience that captures students’ attention and ignites their imaginations. “Industry is already using these tools to design the dashboard of a car, for example,” she adds. Familiarity and comfort with VR “is a marketable skill right out of school,” Cheben adds. Three realities Elementary exploration Three realities (cont.) Middle school makers
6 questions to ask to build a culturally inclusive classroom It’s almost impossible to ignore that K-12 classrooms in the U.S. are filled with students from increasingly diverse cultural backgrounds: race, nationality, religion, economic, etc. Many teachers, though, still aren’t sure how to move from recognizing the diversity to creating a mutually responsive learning environment. In his presentation “Culturally Responsive Teaching: Key Principles and Practices,” Dr. How to build a culturally inclusive classroom Question 1: What do I know? Related: 3 tenets for developing cultural competency in schools 6 questions to ask to build a culturally inclusive classroom Question 2: What do I notice? Question 3: How do I feel?
20 Uses For Virtual Worlds In The Classroom Editor’s Note: This is part two of Using Virtual Worlds to educate. You can find part 1 here. You probably never thought you could attend a virtual lecture, discussion, exam, or lab in 3D. I once had to teach high school students the importance of safety precautions for a welding class. I delved a bit further into the uses of virtual worlds and even created an avatar of my own (PiJustice) to see the current applications of virtual worlds in education. Here is what I found: Virtual worlds are emerging as a meeting place for the most prestigious universities, non-profits, and academic institutions in the world. Their uses are varied and can adapt to different needs. Communications scenarios. But not all virtual worlds are created equal. Students in COM 563:Virtual Environments class created a 3D tour of the iMedia floor at Elon University. The HITLAB (Human Interface Technology Lab) of the University of Washington has explored recent applications of virtual worlds. What is the Current Trend?
20 Top Virtual Reality Apps that are Changing Education *The Edvocate is pleased to produce its “Best of the Best” resource lists. These lists provide our readers with rankings for education-related blogs, twitter accounts, influencers, products, etc. These lists are meant to be fluid, and for that reason, they are regularly updated to provide up to the moment information.* Virtual reality is one of the hottest edtech trends. Star Chart – with over 20 million users this app brings the universe a little closer. Virtual reality allows students to engage with educational content in a whole new way. (M. Fuchs/91) What is a Credible Source? Practically anyone can create a website. Schools, businesses, government entities, churches, and libraries create websites so people can learn more about what they do. Individuals can create personal sites or blogs to write about their families, friends, work, or any other subject. Corporations can make websites to promote their products, and political activists can publish websites to promote their cause. Anyone with an idea and internet access can create a website and fill it with just about any content they want. As of 2018, there are over 1.8 billion websites in the world, many of which are protected by free speech and anti-censorship laws. As a result, life online has undoubtedly changed the procedures used to gather and assess information forever. Even in the cut-and-paste Age of Wikipedia, evaluating sources based on their authority, relevance, and accuracy is still a requirement for serious writers. Bad sources, like bad seeds, can bear bitter fruit for those who use them. Timeliness
exploringbytheseat Can VR be a tool for inspiring empathy in higher ed? Many educators are now discovering virtual reality can inspire empathy and strengthen compassion among students. According to Richard L. Lamb, an associate professor and the director of the Neurocognition Science Laboratory at the University of Buffalo Graduate School of Education, the technology has a significant role to play in the development of students in both the K-12 and postsecondary space. "I think having a compassionate and empathetic campus would improve the overall experience for the students ... there can be a lot of fear and anxiety,” Lamb said. Lamb also mentions an “opportunity gap” which can develop in K-12 education, where a lack of experiences and exposure to other kinds of people make broader empathy or understanding more difficult to conjure. Preparing future educators through virtual reality But with the emphasis on workforce preparedness, VR can also help students prepare for the workplace. “Essentially the students get an opportunity to practice,” Lamb said.