Montana Digital Academy (MTDA) is a designated state virtual school in Montana, created by the 2009 Legislature to provide supplemental online learning to K-12 public school students. The Frontier Learning Lab (FLL) is MTDA’s new statewide hub for cutting-edge learning tools —a place where teachers and students can explore AI, virtual and augmented reality, and other emerging tech.

“It was a natural space for us to go into with applicability in K-12 across the state,” says Jason Neiffer, Executive Director of Montana Digital Academy. “We were early to the AI conversation because we saw an issue we would have to come to terms with at our state virtual school. In January 2024, members of our team were invited to testify about the role of AI in education. That turned into a deeper conversation about what we wanted to do to support Montana schools.”

In an effort to ensure such rural schools could offer access to interested teachers, a solution for opening exploratory spaces for all regardless of budget toward high-quality PD needed to be reached. Having awareness and a deep understanding of that state’s unique needs and challenges was critical.

“One of the things that we've been very conscious of is that the rural nature of Montana is sometimes underestimated,” says Neiffer, who notes that the state is the size of Germany with one-eightieth of the population. “We have a couple of counties that are larger than some U.S. states with a single school district. The superintendent is also the K-12 principal and substitute bus driver and has their boiler's license in case they're pressed into service.”

Neiffer, who was recently recognized with an Innovative Leader Award during Tech & Learning’s recent Northwest Regional Summit, and his team knew truly rural Montana kids were just as important a constituency and deserve to have access to tech experts and resources.

“The Montana School Boards Association stepped up this year and provided a model policy for districts across the state,” he says. “There are endless organizations, nonprofit and for-profit, that help with policy development in schools. However, they don’t always understand that a rural school doesn’t have a full-time tech person — maybe not even any part-time staff — and might have to rely on third-party vendors for that role.”

That is where the Frontier Learning Lab, under the umbrella of the 16-year-strong MTDA state virtual school, stepped in to form a core planning piece for time-challenged leaders.

Time Is Everything

Time management is an important element of any endeavor but already-stretched rural districts really feel that pinch when faced with absorbing new tech initiatives.

“The time piece is a critical factor here,” Neiffer says. “I've been in the business for almost thirty years now and I do think we underinvest in professional learning around technology. We also get that you can't spend all of your time learning about evolving technologies because teaching is a very technical job.”

Neiffer feels part of any strategy needs to be meeting teachers where their resources are.

“Is it face-to-face training, or is it asynchronous online training?” he asks. “We’ve opened up a help desk for teachers that they can email and ask for assistance because not every one of our teachers will be able to dedicate significant professional learning time. So they really do need the old ‘just-in-time’ training. Sometimes that's really just a one-on-one conversation. We want to be able to provide it however works best for their busy schedule.”

The help desk accepts emails 24/7 with someone manning and responding 9-10 hours a day. This has been particularly helpful for those teachers exploring on their own time or who may not have colleagues at their level.

3 Actionable Tips When Starting a Virtual Academy Such As Frontier

1. Need should drive everything. “One of the reasons why our program was originally created was because Montana’s vast geography needed a virtual option with stable funding and consistency in availability for students every semester,” Neiffer says. “Investment in the program is critical so funding at minimum ensures schools know when they need access to the program, they have access to the program. It can’t be dependent on an unstable funding source. You only get that consensus around need. Look at where gaps are and get coalitions together across many different political, philosophical, pedagogical views.”

2. Don't recreate the wheel. “Unless you are on the exceptionally bleeding edge of something (and if you are, great, just make sure you tell the rest of us what you did!), look at existing models,” Neiffer says. “Montana Digital Academy is part of the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance which is a coalition of 20 state virtual schools across the United States. Instead of coming up with something from scratch, find something that's 50%, 70%, 80% of the way there and just adjust it for your locality and specific needs. Chances are someone is already doing this work elsewhere. If they aren’t far enough along to give you hints, they'll be a wonderful collaboration partner.”

3. Don't be afraid to ask for resources from others. “We don't spend enough time asking our colleagues down the street what they're doing,” Neiffer says. “Whenever you can take advantage of a room of people that agree or disagree with you about your approach, it's a real opportunity to push yourself and make your planning process that much richer.”

Looking To The Horizon In Big Sky

In an era of ever-tightening budgets — the sky is not the limit, even in Big Sky Country. Investment into innovation can be an intimidating mountain to climb.

“We are actively balancing costs, which are still significant in this space, with utility inside of a classroom,” Neiffer says. “I have no doubt that we can find lots of good, showy, fun, interesting, even pedagogically useful places for virtual reality, but it's always balanced against the cost of the hardware and the cost of maintaining those pieces.”

One pilot that Neiffer and his team is exploring is securing access to virtual dissections for online anatomy and physiology students. “There are anatomy and physiology classes available from two and four-year Montana colleges, but it can be very geography-based due to the human dissection lab requirement,” he says. “So how do we provide that access to online students?”

Stretching resources continues to be a challenge.

“We have four different departments in Montana Virtual Academy with a mix of public, private and school-based funding,” Neiffer says. “In particular, in our Business Learning Program and our Digital Learning Clearing House, we find a reasonable cost to share with schools. The legislature wants schools to have skin in the game so that they know that it's something they are investing in for access to opportunity.”

Embracing partnerships is key. For example, MTDA has access to STEM experts and research professors at the University of Montana who provide guidance on AI, virtual and augmented reality.

Neiffer believes that the lab itself — the professional learning — should be covered with a combination of state appropriation, federal grants and private foundations to help create a sustainable model to ensure access for the most rural schools when public funding might not reach that scalability down to the smallest of schools.

“With such great future-looking leadership in this space, we are now working with vendors to find the most affordable solutions for what is to come,” Neiffer says. “A previous superintendent of public instruction called Montana a frontier state. I think that that's an accurate way to describe what we do.”

Neiffer is enthusiastic about the future of education as well as the hard-working team around him.

“Find people who are interested in helping you and don't be afraid to fail,” he says. “Chances are not every new initiative will be successful so just use that as an opportunity to grow and become better. It’s a really critical part of being a design-thinking forward organization, but it's also the best way to approach teaching and learning. Institutions are learning as much as the students.”

Tools They Use

Neiffer discusses some of his go-to tech tools.

• TextExpander - “I can’t live without a text expansion app. My longtime favorite is TextExpander, which works on Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS. I use it for stock AI prompts, phrases I type all the time, such as, ‘Hello, my name is Jason Neiffer, and I am the Executive Director of Montana Digital Academy,’ and even bits of code.”
• NotebookLM - “I experiment with many fast-moving AI tools, but I keep coming back to Google NotebookLM as a dependable place to organize the large volume of information I collect for work and personal projects. That includes reports, journal articles, presentations, travel guides, restaurant recommendations, and videos about places I want to visit.”
• ChatGPT CustomGPTs and Gemini Gems - “One of the most useful things about today’s generative AI tools is the ability to create small, purpose-built helpers that work through information with you. I love building CustomGPTs and Gems to handle specific tasks, like creating alt text for images, rewriting assignment directions for clarity, brainstorming workshop materials, or helping organize drafts and ideas. They are not perfect, of course, but they can save a great deal of time and mental energy.”

Yorescape is a virtual exploration software that lets classes travel the world, and go back through time, digitally.

Unlike other platforms that use Google Maps and Google Earth as a way to create explorations, this is a proprietary software. It was developed not only to take students around the world, but to visit ancient historical sites as they would have looked then.

Developed by Flyover Zones, a company that specializes in virtual tours, it has put its skills to use for travelling through time as well as space.

This guide lays out all you need to know about using Yorescape in your class.

What is Yorescape?

Yorescape is the app frontage that is home to the many Flyover Zone virtual tours. This not only offers those physical locations but also what the company calls time warps.

It is these time warps that can offer a virtual historical trip for students, allowing them to visit a site as it once would have looked.

Students and teachers are able to visit a site and explore it using virtual joysticks to move about, as if really there. This freedom to roam around gives it a feel of really travelling through time back to when this site existed.

From ancient Rome or Greece to Egypt and South America, there are lots of locations and famous sites to visit. At time of publishing there are 15 virtual tours of iconic sites.

How does Yorescape work?

Yorescape is very easy to use via the web or the dedicated apps for iOS and Android. These can be accessed across most devices with an internet connection.

The app can be installed and immediately provides access to the many virtual tours and locations. Students can pick a spot to visit, perhaps to see ruins in Egypt, Greece, Italy, or Mexico.

They are then also able to go through time, bringing those ruins back to life, with a virtual exploration of how it once was, possible.

Students can explore freely or be led by a digital tour guide who talks them through the tour.

What are the best Yorescape features?

Yorescape offers lots of virtual tours, built bespoke and specifically targeted at education.

Some options include visiting the Giza Plateau in Egypt, the Acropolis and the Agora in ancient Athens, or the entire city of ancient Rome, all seen from the air.

This is an ongoing project and the website features future tours that are in the works. At the time of publishing, one of the treats to look forward includes a rebuild of ancient Athens with multiple virtual tours in the city site. The main adviser on this is Professor Jenifer Neils, the Director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

The voiceover tours are really impressive as these are by leading historians and archaeologists, so you can hear the passion in their voices -- which can be wonderfully infectious for the students.

Usefully, there is a tour time guide given so teachers can assess how long they can give in any time window. These range from as little as a few minutes to several hours -- with plenty of free roaming options to suit.

Helpfully, there are lots of resources for teachers to support this, including lesson plans, vocabulary lists, discussion questions, and more, all in easily accessible Google Docs format.

How much does Yorescape cost?

Yorescape does offer a free taster tour but the vast majority of this requires a subscription to access.

The free tour lets you visit the Temple at Baalbek, then you'll need to pay for anything more.

Teachers can pay an individual subscription at $49.99 for full access.

Schools are able to pay for an institution wide subscription with tiered pricing based on your school size.

Yorescape best tips and tricks

Start simple
Use the free tour to see how the class takes to this platform before deciding if it's worth paying for.

Go free
Be sure to allow students time to explore freely, as this can be a great way to generate questions and discussion points in class.

Tour together
Take the virtual guided tours as a class, pausing to discuss as you explore.

• New Teacher Starter Kit
• Best Tools for Teachers

Introducing students to multiple curriculums can be a daunting task, especially from the perspective of one teacher. While new technology can help, the amount of it being integrated in the classroom can be a bit overwhelming.

Makerspaces have taken this into consideration and, even with the proliferation of AI, have put greater emphasis on interdisciplinary project-based learning, says Tim Needles educator and author of STEAM Power: Infusing Art Into Your STEM Curriculum.

“We’re at a time now where everyone’s talking about AI. It’s been the dominant conversation for sure,” says Needles. “But the other piece of AI is that because it can manage some of what we typically do in our classrooms, it puts a greater importance on some of the project-based learning type of work. It puts a greater emphasis on creativity.”

Using Enhanced Reality to Emphasize Creative Learning 

The use of immersive technology – augmented and virtual reality – continues to grow in schools. Needles is no stranger to using enhanced reality formats to bring out the wonder and excitement associated with hands-on learning.

“We’re doing a lot of work with AR and VR,” he says. “Merge cubes are nice because it’s tactile. It’s a nice blend of the physical world and the digital world where students can actually manipulate things with their hands and get a better sense of them. Then we can move into things like poster creation with augmented reality so that you could decorate your classroom with some of the learning that you do with students.”

Augmented reality has a unique way of giving students a way to interact with their surroundings. But how does virtual reality work into the classroom in a similar fashion?

“One of the things that has been really effective in working with students from all different backgrounds is having a connective tool like a VR headset,” Needles says. “We’re currently using Oculus and we do a lot of work with NASA because of virtual experiences like taking a virtual trip to the International Space Station. Or students can explore the Anne Frank house if they wanted to.”

The Positive Impact These Forms of Education Can Have on Students 

While AR and VR are great tools on their own, Needles says cross-curricular use is key.

“One of the most effective ways to use some of these tools is not by themselves, but to actually tie them into other kinds of curriculum as well,” he says. “Being a STEAM person, I like interdisciplinary stuff. So I work with teachers in different departments, and then also adding global learning with a couple global programs to cater to students in multiple countries.”

Bringing connectivity to students across the world can help people from different backgrounds find common ground in education. But are the students engaged?

“I think the engagement is one of the key reasons it’s so successful,” Needles says. “Students are so much more interested. It’s great to see a full class of students fully engaged because that’s always the aim.”

The Importance of Digital Literacy 

Introducing new tools into the classroom is a wonderful way to get students more engaged in the educational process, but how do educators deal with the ever increasing task of teaching students how to interact with the tech and tools they use?

“This is something I’ve been discussing with a lot of colleagues now,” Needles says. “We’re testing a new program that specifically teaches literacy through a company called Digital Responsibility. It’s a micro course that students take as they enter high school. You could be strengthening student understanding of digital literacy by talking about it in individual classes, but the courses are a good way to create a blanket beginning point. With AI being as powerful and as important as it is, dealing with digital literacy, media literacy, and ethics is important.”

Students have many digital outlets when it comes to education and entertainment, but some educators make it a priority to encourage students to use their tools and programs in a responsible and ethical way.

Some of the Tools Needles Uses:

• Google
• Classlink
• Go Guardian
• Adobe
• Formative
• Quizizz
• EdPuzzle
• Discovery

Related articles:

• What to Know About Buying a VR Headset
• Using AI and Robots To Build Social Connections For All Students

The best VR headsets for schools are being used far more widely now. The technology is more affordable and available, while the software options are greater than ever, and growing daily.

Both virtual reality and augmented reality headsets give teachers an opportunity to offer students an immersive experience of a topic or subject. From taking a virtual trip to ancient Rome to dissecting a frog without any real animals being harmed, the possibilities are broad. Plus, this option is far more affordable and safe than the physical world alternatives. 

Many headset systems now work as a group, allowing the teacher to guide the students as they each have a personal viewing experience from their connected headset. This can mean a great focus of attention, even for students that might otherwise struggle to stay engaged in a group situation.

Here's what to know about buying a VR headset.

For this guide we're mostly looking at the best VR and AR systems for schools, used in the classroom.

Best VR headsets for schools

1. ClassVR: Best Overall

The ClassVR system, by Avantis, is a purpose-built VR headset and software package designed for schools. As such, these headsets are solidly constructed with a plastic shell and wide headband. Each system comes with a pack of eight, plus all the kit necessary to get up and training. Crucially, ClassVR also offers a lot of assistance with setting up the install and managing the system, if that's what the school chooses. 

The system offers plenty of educational content that is actually curriculum-aligned. Since it's all run from a centralized management system, it leaves the teacher in total control and also means you don't need more than one main computer to have it up and running. 

Since this ensures all the students see the same content at the same time, it can facilitate a group learning experience, just as with a real class trip, for example. The price is reasonable for what you get but when you compare to affordable options that work from home, it's still a commitment.

2. VR Sync: Best for Use with Multiple Headsets

VR Sync is a digital platform that can be used to send a VR experience to multiple headsets. Since this is simply the software part of that, it leaves the school free to use varying headsets. This is also a great option for a school that allows students to bring in their own headsets from home.

You can add videos, so you can make your own or use those downloaded from online. You get full 360-degree video with spatial audio for full immersion. It also offers an option to study analytics of how users interact – aimed more at business users, but it has potential for the classroom too.

Sync VR currently works with Oculus Go, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, Pico, Samsung Gear VR, Android, and Vive.

3. Redbox VR: Best for Content

The Redbox VR system is similar to the ClassVR setup, only this offering is created to work with Google Expeditions specifically. As such, it's an ideal way to take a class on a virtual tour of places all over the world, now and in the past.

The system comes in a box with a selection of headsets and all the kit needed for set up and keeping the system charged for use. An optional 360-degree video recording setup allows users to make their own videos – ideal for a virtual tour of the school, for example.

The system comes with a 10.1-inch tablet that allows the teacher to control the experience with ease while still remaining mobile enough to move around the class.

4. Oculus Meta Quest 3: Best Stand Alone Setup

The Meta Quest 3, formerly Oculus, is one of the most powerful standalone headsets out there right now. While it's not specifically built for the classroom, it packs in so much power, so many features, and such a wealth of content, that it's a great classroom tool. It's not cheap, and you do need a Facebook account to get up and running, but it's worth all that for the super accurate gesture controls and more.

This is a light model, making it suitable for younger users too. Everything runs quickly and the display is crisp and high-res enough to help even those less comfortable with VR to be at ease using this headset.

5. Google Cardboard: Best Affordable Option

Google Cardboard is a very, very affordable option. At its most basic, this is a cardboard box with two lenses, and although there are many unofficial versions with plastic build and head straps for a little more, we're still talking under $25 here. 

A smartphone is required in the headset to make the magic happen, but the system is still relatively cheap and can work anywhere. A negative as not all students have powerful enough smartphones, or want to risk breaking one.

Since this is part of the Google VR system, you get lots and lots of content that's always being updated. Google Expedition offers virtual school trips all over the world and, of course, it's all free to use. Beyond that, there are educational apps and the ability to create content for viewing. Add that to Google Classroom and you have yourself a very capable VR platform.

6. Windows Mixed Reality: Best for AR

Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality is an augmented reality (AR) platform that works with Windows 10 and 11 devices and a selection of headsets. A fair amount of content is free, created by VictoryVR, but it's nothing compared to the scale of Google. That said, this is curriculum-specific content, so expect it to be useful: From virtual dissections to holographic tours, it's all very immersive.

The big sell here over a lot of VR is that this brings the virtual into the room, allowing students to have their hands recognized to interact with the virtual object as if they were really there. This is Microsoft, so don't expect it to be cheap, but there are a number of partners offering headsets, such as Dell and HP. Microsoft itself offers the Hololens 2.

Of course you can simply use a Windows 10/11 tablet with no headset for an AR experience too, as a more affordable alternative. 

7. Apple AR: Best for Visually Engaging Apps

The Apple AR offering is one that's built for use on its tablets and phones, specifically the LiDAR packing iPad Pro. Consequently, this is an expensive option when it comes to hardware. But for that outlay you get some of the most visually attractive and engaging apps designed specifically for education. 

Put a virtual civilization on a school desk or explore the stars during the day, all from a single screen. Of course, if students already own Apple devices that can help to extend the experience without cost to the school. Since this is Apple, expect plenty more apps to come and lots of free options too.

8. Vive Cosmos: Best for immersive games

The Vive Cosmos is a super powerful VR and AR headset that comes with very sensitive and accurate gesture controllers. All that is backed by a PC connection, so high-powered experiences are possible. Plus, there is a lot of modular capability, so you can invest less up front and upgrade parts as and when you need.

The programs include Vive Arts for educational content, from pairings with the likes of the Louvre and Museum of Natural History. This allows students to build a tyrannosaurus rex, bone by bone, for example. A lot of free content is available including a virtual anatomy class, a light refraction experiment, and more.

9. Apple Vision Pro: Best for ease

The Apple Vision Pro is a very impressive AR contender on this list but it's low down here as it's also very, very expensive. Sure, this being Apple means it's easy to setup and use and with more and more rich content landing daily. But that also means an Apple price tag which puts this out of reach for many schools -- or at best, taking turns and sharing a headset.

Thanks to eye-tracking smarts and superb display resolutions, this is super simple to use and looks great. But it's not designed specifically for schools, so keep that in mind if you're thinking of making the investment. 

Pricing and short battery life aside, plus that heavy headset weight, this is one of the best VR experiences you can have and it will only get better, so if you can afford it, this is worth a try.

• Best Thermal Imaging Cameras For Schools
• What To Know About Buying A VR Headset

Cybersickness can be caused by the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets or related technologies, and includes symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, sweating, and eyestrain. 

Jonathan Kelly, a professor of psychology and human-computer interaction at Iowa State University, began studying cybersickness after research on another topic using VR was hampered by the number of people complaining of cybersickness symptoms. 

Kelly and his research colleagues have found that half of new virtual reality users experience cybersickness after 10 minutes of playing a VR game, and after 20 minutes that number rises to 75% of participants. The incidence of cybersickness is even higher in women, who were twice as likely as men to end the sessions early due to cybersickness and reported more severe symptoms. 

The frequency in which these symptoms occur in VR users has important implications for the development of the Metaverse and could impact the rollout of Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s recently announced augmented reality headset. (Cybersickness from augmented reality, or AR, can occur but early research indicates it is far less common than cybersickness caused by VR use.)

“We realized that this is a problem that will limit the uptake of virtual reality unless we solve it,” Kelly says. He and his colleagues continue to study the causes of cybersickness and how it can be prevented in order to make VR more accessible to all. 

What is Cybersickness?  

Cybersickness is a feeling of unwellness that is believed to occur due to the sensory conflict that occurs when a person using a virtual reality headset sees movement in the simulated landscape but their body doesn’t feel that movement.  

“It's that sensory conflict that's thought to be largely responsible for especially the motion sickness kinds of symptoms you get in cybersickness,” Kelly says. 

Similar to what happens to those who experience motion sickness while trying to read as a passenger in a car, Kelly says, “You're looking down, you don't really see the physical world, but your body feels those turns, and so it creates that sensory conflict that makes you sick.”  

Sensory conflict also seemingly explains why cybersickness from AR use appears less common. “When you put on your VR headset all you see is the virtual world, so as you interact with it there is this great potential for conflict between your vision and your body,” Kelly says. “An AR headset, of course, you're overlaying virtual stimuli onto the real world. So now you have visible around you the real environment, and there's of course no conflict with the real environment visually and your body.” 

Why Are Women More Prone to Cybersickness? 

It is unclear why women are more likely to experience severe symptoms of cybersickness. One theory is that it is because VR headsets have largely been designed by and for men. Specifically, it’s been proposed that because women have less distance on average between their pupils than men, most headsets don’t properly fit them. 

“That was a really nice theory and idea, but I don't believe that it's true,” Kelly says. 

While previous research had suggested a connection, in a larger study Kelly and his colleagues found that the distance between people’s pupils was not a predictor of cybersickness. 

”We don't know exactly why women get sicker than men. It seems like some of the reason has to do with the fact that women are simply more susceptible to motion sickness, and motion sickness susceptibility does predict cybersickness,” he says. 

Kelly adds there is more going on then we currently understand and more research is needed to ensure VR is accessible to  both men and women. 

What Can Educators and Others Do To Limit Cybersickness?  

The good news is that there are strategies for reducing the likelihood of cybersickness. 

Some VR games have comfort settings designed to limit cybersickness. For instance, one setting will narrow the view when you move with your joystick in order to reduce the visual conflict a user experiences. 

“The downside, of course, is it also reduces the visual experience,” Kelly says. “You've got this cool wide field of view display, and you start moving and all of a sudden you're looking through a straw and it just sort of diminishes the experience.” He adds this is also true of other comfort settings, including a teleportation feature, which cuts out joystick walking altogether. 

“I'd like to see us develop tools that allow us to help people feel more comfortable but not negatively impact the visual environment,” Kelly says. To that end, his lab is studying the concept that those who play in VR for short periods ultimately grow accustomed to it through a process called “adaptation.” While it has not been conclusively proven yet, there is good early evidence suggesting its likelihood. 

“We think there might be some opportunities to help people adapt to cybersickness, especially in ways that don't make them really sick initially, but just kind of gradually, gently expose them,” he says. 

In the meantime, educators utilizing VR experiences in classrooms should be aware that cybersickness is likely to occur in some students and should regularly check on them. 

In Kelly’s experiments, he and his colleagues ask how people are feeling on 10-point scale. “It's not very intrusive, [you can] do it every couple minutes,” he says. “In our experience, as soon as that value starts going up, and so let's say you're now ‘5,’ after 10 minutes of VR, it's better to stop there. It only gets worse.” 

Ultimately, it's important to be cognizant of the length of a VR session. “The adaptation thing I was talking about, that's more about exposure, repeatedly, day after day, but in a single session it will just keep going up and so people can get miserably sick if they let themselves," he says. "So it's important to be monitoring and tell people to monitor themselves.” 

• 7 New Metaverse & VR Education Tools to Watch
• The Metaverse: 5 Things Educators Should Know
• Teaching a VR Lesson: 5 Questions to Ask

Labster is a website that offers a way to perform virtual lab experiments using technical simulations. While this is aimed primarily at higher education it can also be used for STEM learning in high schools.

This is a more advanced VR system, aimed at older students. But with teacher-based guidance this can be used by younger students under a supervised framework. That said, there is guidance within the application that can be enough to follow for some users. 

The point here is that you can access biotech lab practices without the need for the real-world equipment or the very real dangers that can go with open flames, chemicals, and the like.

What is Labster?

Labster is a virtual laboratory space for students and teachers to carry out STEM experiments safely and without the usual costs or dangers that real-world testing can involve.

Since this is online-based, it can offer a highly accessible platform from a variety of devices, locations, and internet connections. The lab testing be carried out virtually, and the follow-up quiz options are available within the application.

Crucially, this is a platform that recreates the biotech lab procedures with great accuracy. It can be used as a replacement for real-world options and as a way to prepare students to perform physical experiments safely and efficiently, having practiced here first. 

The lab covers various sciences including biology, physics, chemistry, and more, with hundreds of simulations available for each. All this, the company says, stays within STEM and improves learning outcomes. 

How does Labster work?

Labster is a system you need to sign-up to and pay for in order to use. Once you've done this, you can have students work individually or, more usefully, in pairs to get the most out of this setup.

Ideally, teachers will want to run through the lab process with students before leaving them to carry out their own testing scenarios. This is because it can be complex and detailed so any issues can cause snags that leave students stuck without assistance. 

This is aimed to higher-end high school students taking AP Biology or upper level science electives, for example. This works well as a precursor to wet lab tests, in which students can master the process before going on to do it physically. 

Since the virtual experience is as close to reality as possible, controlling virtual hands to grab virtual beakers, for example, it makes this a really great way to get ready to work in the laboratory.

What are the best Labster features?

Labster is super thorough in its detailing, so it works as a like-for-like replacement for build up to real work experiments. Right down to details, such as disposing of and changing pipettes, it's all accounted for in this highly professional setup.

Embedded quizzes make for a great way to test learning as students progress and as a way for teachers to get feedback on how students are mastering, or failing, at lab testing scenarios -- of which there are hundreds.

Teachers can access a dashboard on which they can easily see an overview of how students are progressing. A number of resources are available, including explainer videos, graphics, theory pages, and more.

This whole system allows students to access labs that might otherwise be too expensive or dangerous to try in the real class. As such, this can offer very exciting and challenging experiences that encourage students to go down a science path in which they might otherwise not have had interest.

Labster integrates with many LMS options and plenty of software, including Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Google Classroom, Schoology, Sakai, and Brightspace / D2L.

How much does Labster cost?

Labster has various pricing levels in place, based on the education institution. When it comes to high schools, there is specific pricing that can be applied for to suit the size of that setup.

There are three tiers of Course Access, Department Access and Institution Access. The second two add in large-scale discounts, extended access, admin consultation, and faculty training.

Labster best tips and tricks

Start slow
This software is wonderful but can be complex, so be sure to take students through the lab process slowly and methodically so they can learn and feel confident doing it for themselves soon after.

Qualify
Have students qualify to do wet lab testing by showing they are able to handle a similar or the same scenario in the Labster environment first.

Go again
Try using this post-lab as a way to think deeper on a test scenario where students may be able to make connections that they weren't able to in the wet lab environment.

• New Teacher Starter Kit
• Best Tools for Teachers

To share your feedback and ideas on this article, consider joining our Tech & Learning online community here

Veative is a well-established VR brand that was created purely for education purposes, as was shown at Bett 2023. While there are more and more virtual reality headsets out there, Veative stands out as unique. Unlike many others this is a totally independent system, so you don't need a computer, smartphone, or even internet to use this.

A Veative spokesperson told us: "This is a totally independent VR system where all the content is loaded directly on to the headsets, which are battery powered. No cables, no computers, and no internet are needed to run these."

That makes these ideal for school use as it can be moved between classes, very little technical training is required, and no costly computer systems are needed to run everything.

On top of all that, Veative has been producing content for years so there are masses of educational VR experiences from which to choose. With more than 670 modules for both VR and AR, you can access 100+ hours of immersive content. And since this is a global brand, it is aligned with more than 20 curricula and is offered in five languages.

• Check out the best of BETT 2023 here

For older students there are unique career discovery and CTE options with gamified interactions. For younger students there are STEM learning and specific subject modules covering physics, math, biology, ELL, chemistry, virtual tours, special ed, and more.

Everything can be managed from an app, which allows educators to monitor student progress, set work, analyze data, and more.

Veative Full is available now for $10 per user per year. Or go for the Library Mode, in which anyone can grab a device and use it, for $200 per VR headset per year.

As school budgets continue to shrink and classroom time is at a premium, virtual field trips have become a great opportunity for educators to help students experience places around the globe without getting on a bus, or even leaving their classroom.

Being able to see and experience a significant cultural institution, historic site, or natural landscape with the help of immersive technology, such as virtual or augmented reality, can help make lessons more engaging and exciting.

Here are the best virtual field trips for education, organized by art museums, history museums, civics-related sites, aquariums and nature sites, STEM-related experiences, and more!

Virtual Art Museum Tours

- British Museum, London Explore more than 4,000 years of art and historical objects from around the world.

- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C Features more than 40,000 American works of art, including paintings, works on paper, and etchings.

- Musee d’Orsay, Paris Displays art created between 1848 and 1914, including works by van Gogh, Renoir, Manet, Monet, and Degas

- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea The representative museum of modern Korean visual art, plus architecture, design and crafts.

- Pergamon, Berlin, Germany Features sculpture, artifacts, and other items from ancient Greece.

- Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands Home to the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh in the world, including more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 750 of the artist's letters.

- Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy A dynastic collection of ancient sculpture, artwork, and artifacts, established by the renowned Medici family.

- MASP, Sao Paolo, Brazil Brazil's first modern museum, displaying 8,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, objects, photographs, and costumes from a range of periods, encompassing Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston A comprehensive collection that ranges from prehistoric times to modern day, featuring world-renowned paintings by Rembrandt, Monet, Gauguin, and Cassatt, plus mummies, sculpture, ceramics, and masterpieces of African and Oceanic art.

- The Frick Collection, New York Distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.

- J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles Works of art dating from the eighth through the twenty-first century, including European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European, Asian, and American photographs.

- The Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois Thousands of artworks—from world-renowned icons (Picasso, Monet, Matisse, Hopper) to lesser-known gems from every corner of the globe—as well as books, writings, reference materials, and other resources.

- The Metropolitan Museum of Art A colossal collection of art, cultural objects, and historical artifacts from over 5,000 years of human history.

- The Louvre Museum Packed with iconic works of art, from da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and other renowned artists.

- New Britain Museum of Art eMuseum Virtual visitors can explore a wide variety of the institution's collection, include works of American Impressionism, landscapes from the Hudson River School, Post-WW2 and Contemporary art, as well as the "Math-terpieces" and "What Is America?" school tours.

Virtual History Museum Tours

- Smithsonian Museum of Natural History One of the largest repositories of natural history on the planet, featuring more than 145 million artifacts and specimens.

- National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Home to an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts, including paintings, sculpture, photographs, and historical objects.

- The Prague Castle, Czechoslovakia Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, consisting of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles, from the remains of Romanesque-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications of the 14th century.

- The Colosseum, Rome One of the most iconic structures in world history.

- Machu Picchu, Peru Explore the 15th-century mountaintop citadel built by the Inca.

- The Great Wall of China One of the wonders of the world, stretching more than 3,000 miles across multiple provinces of China

- The National WWII Museum’s Manhattan Project virtual field trip A cross-country virtual expedition to discover the science, sites, and stories involved with the creation of the atomic bomb.

- Discovering Ancient Egypt In addition to stories of the great kings and queens, learn about the ancient Egyptian gods and mummification, pyramids, and temples through interactive maps, photos, drawings, and paintings.

- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock Virtual Tour Through personal stories, interactive media, and pop culture artifacts, explore seven decades of history, from the dawn of the nuclear age to the significant policy questions of today.

- U.S. Capitol Virtual Tour Video tours of historic rooms and spaces, some of which are not open to the public, research resources, and teaching materials.

Civics Virtual Field Trips

- National Mall Gateway - This digital platform connects students and teachers to the National Mall and U.S. history, allowing them to go from the classroom to the Reflecting Pool. It also features standards-aligned resources, interactive maps, and 360° tours so students can explore historic landmarks.

- Virtual Field Trip to the Census Bureau A behind-the-scenes introduction to the U.S. Census Bureau, featuring exclusive interviews with subject matter experts.

- National Constitution Center Virtual Tour A virtual interactive multimedia tour of the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.

- Virtual field trip to Ellis Island Hear first-hand stories told by those who came through Ellis Island, see historical photographs and films, and read fascinating facts.

Aquariums & Nature Parks Virtual Field Trips 

- National Aquarium Home to 20,000 animals covering 800 species, from the depths of the ocean to the canopy of the rain forest.

- Georgia Aquarium Live webcam feeds for aquatic creatures, such as beluga whales, penguins, alligators, sea otters, and even underwater puffins.

- San Diego Zoo Live looks at koala, baboons, apes, tigers, platypuses, penguins, and more.

- Yellowstone National Park (live cams) Nine webcams—one live-streaming and eight static—provide views of around the North Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs, Mount Washburn, the West Entrance, and the Upper Geyser Basin.

- Mystic Aquarium One of three U.S. facilities holding Steller sea lions, and it has the only beluga whales in New England.

- Monterey Bay Aquarium (live cams) Ten live cams, including sharks, sea otters, jellyfish, and penguins.

STEM Virtual Field Trips

- NASA At Home Virtual tours and apps from NASA, including tours of the Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, International Space Station, and Hubble Space Telescope Mission Operations Center, plus excursions to Mars and the Moon.

- California Science Center Build your own virtual field trip for grades K-5 with NGSS-aligned content, in both English and Spanish.

- Slime in Space Take students 250 miles above Earth to the International Space Station to learn along with astronauts how slime reacts to microgravity compared to how water reacts.

- Clark Planetarium Virtual Skywatch Free for schools, virtual versions of the live “Skywatch” planetarium dome presentations that directly correlate to 6th grade and 4th grade SEEd astronomy standards.

- Alaska Volcano Observatory Alaska's active volcanoes offer superb opportunities for basic scientific investigations of volcanic processes.

- The Nature Conservancy’s Nature Lab virtual field trips Designed for grades 5-8 but customizable for all ages, each virtual field trip contains a video, teacher guide, and student activities.

- Great Lakes Now Virtual Field Trip Learn more about the importance of coastal wetlands, the danger of algal blooms, and a deep dive into lake sturgeon. Designed for 6-8th grade.

- Access Mars Explore the real surface of Mars, as recorded by NASA's Curiosity rover.

- Easter Island The story of a team of archaeologists and a 75-person crew who sought to unravel how the hundreds of giant stone statues that dominate the island's coast were moved and erected.

- FarmFresh360 Learn about Canadian food and farming in 360º.

Miscellaneous Virtual Field Trips

- Nature Eye - NatureEye specializes in live, interactive virtual field trips during which students and teachers can remotely "fly" a drone in real time at a location on the other side of the world. Curriculum-aligned experiences include African wildlife reserves, Icelandic volcanos, and Peruvian cloud forests, with a live guide to provide context and answer questions. Virtual field trips start at $150.

- CyArk - This nonprofit organization uses advanced technologies, including drones and photogrammetry, to digitally preserve cultural heritage sites. They create immersive 3D models, virtual tours, and self-guided field trips of historical landmarks and archaeological sites, including Mount Rushmore, Mongolia, Greenland, Bangkok, Sudan, and many more.

- American Writers Museum new live Virtual Field Trips feature a guided exploration of AWM’s permanent exhibits or two online exhibits; staff-led interactive gameplay and pop quizzes about major literary works; and Writer Wednesdays, offering students a weekly opportunity to connect with a published author about the craft of writing.

- Khan Academy Imagineering in a Box Go behind the scenes with Disney Imagineers and complete project-based exercises to design a theme park.

- Google Arts & Culture Explore galleries, museums, and more.

Virtual reality can help boost CTE programs and teach students about potential careers in fields they may know nothing about, says Lana Taylor from the Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 

Traditionally Boys & Girls Clubs in Indiana have offered only limited career education opportunities. 

“We'd always kind of done a little bit of career training, but it'd been mostly having a guest speaker come in and talk, or maybe doing a field trip and going somewhere. It really wasn't in-depth skill development,” Taylor says.  “What we've tried to do over the past couple of years is to find other resources that can provide kids with that more detailed experience.” 

One of those other resources has been a partnership with Transfer VR to provide students access to headsets to participate in career simulations that can give them a tactile sense of what working in certain careers might be like. 

Virtual Reality Career Training: An Immersive Experience 

Through VR, the Indiana students now have the opportunity to participate in a variety of job-related simulations. 

For example, in one simulation students learn about aviation by trying to land a plane. Another has them try to repair an electric wire that is atop a tower high above the ground. “They had to climb up the pole with the power line, if they dropped their tool, they had to figure out how to pick up their tools,” Taylor says. 

That simulation, like others, has helped students understand a job that may sound boring on paper, such as repairing power lines, might actually be exciting in reality. “They were so into it,” she says of those participating in the simulation. 

The VR technology also allows for the simulation to be displayed on a big screen, which can build excitement and engagement. “Even if one kid has the headset on, all 20 in that room can watch what he's doing because they'll be able to see it up on the screen, which is really neat because then kids are like, ‘I want to try that!'” she says. 

Supporting CTE 

“Not all kids are meant to go to college, not all kids want to do it,” Taylor says. “So it’s important to give them some exposure to different careers and workforce paths that maybe they hadn't thought of before.” 

Obviously, there are many lucrative and rewarding careers that don’t require a college degree, yet many kids don’t always know much about these opportunities. “So many kids started school and never finished, but have these horrible student loans,” Taylor says. 

Students are more focused on doing something that they find fulfilling than ever before, Taylor says. She hopes VR career simulations can help support CTE efforts and shed light on popular careers today, such as those in health care and the culinary world. “The majority of our kids, they want to do something that they love, they don't want to sit and be bored,” she says. “Kids are really engaged in knowing what they want more.” 

Educators interested in letting their students experience similar career simulations can reach out to a local Boys & Girls Club to see if they have similar programs. 

In Indiana, Taylor says educators can view the virtual reality career simulators in action at a local club meeting. She’s also looking to team up with schools or other organizations. “We always love to partner with our schools and find ways that we can do that and expand more services to more kids,” Taylor says. 

• Best VR Headsets for Schools
• The Future of CTE: What Educators Need to Know
• Using Virtual Reality To Enhance Existing Lessons

Before teaching a VR lesson or an AR lesson, there are some questions teachers should ask themselves, says Jaime Donally, an immersive learning expert. 

Donally is a former math teacher and instructional technologist who has written two books about teaching with extended reality (XR), which encompasses virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). She advises teachers to ask these questions as they prepare to teach a VR lesson and get ready for the metaverse. 

1. What is The Goal of The VR Lesson? 

As with any kind of lesson, it's a good idea to start with the end goal in mind when teaching a VR lesson by asking questions such as, "What is the learning objective? And how can VR help meet that objective?" 

Too often, an educator will see a cool VR lesson at a conference and try to shoehorn it into an existing lesson. “I think that's really going to be the approach that's going to have a lot more problems,” says Donally. 

Instead, she advises teachers to search for VR and AR resources and lessons that can fill gaps. “Look for the resources that are going to target those areas where maybe us as teachers have a hard time grasping or demonstrating," she says. "What can augmented or virtual reality support that I couldn't do without that kind of technology?”  

For example, consider using VR to enhance an existing lesson, such as a history lesson to see what a significant site used to look like in the past.

2. What Type of Technology Do Your Students Have Access To?  

You don’t need an expensive VR headset to start incorporating immersive technology into your teaching but you do need to be mindful of the strengths and weaknesses of the tech that your students have access to. 

“Chromebooks, which are the most popular school products in the classroom today, are limited to more web XR experiences,” Donally says. “So an example of that is actually building in a virtual or 360-degree environment.” 

If students have access to devices with cameras such as an iPad, iPhone, or Android device, they can engage in AR lessons. “They can do augmented and virtual reality experiences in it, and it gives them the chance to be able to explore and sometimes even create and design,” Donally says. “Depending on which device they get, they can even do 3D scanning to be able to build and populate their immersive experiences. Most of what I share is being used or leveraged on iPhones or iPads, or Google mobile devices."

3. Who Can I Collaborate With?  

Collaboration with administrators and other colleagues is key to developing successful VR lessons, especially as the technology you are utilizing gets more advanced and potentially expensive. 

“[Collaborate] with your curriculum team, your technology team, other teachers in the same group, whether it be grade level or subject level,” Donally says. 

When this collaboration portion isn’t in place, sometimes efforts to incorporate VR into the classroom can be a bust. “What happens is you have this really energetic teacher that jumps into this technology, with absolutely no support through their curriculum, no support through their technology, and really no guidance. So they run into all these stumbling blocks,” Donally says. “I've actually heard of school districts going out and spending grant money for VR headsets, and the technology department shuts it down because it's not safe, or there are complications within their own network.” 

4. What Resources Are Available?  

Donally has written more than 200 blogs on VR learning and related topics for her website that teachers can access for free. In addition, she has developed two free courses in partnership with the Verizon Innovative Learning Center and has written two books published by ISTE on the topic, The Immersive Classroom and Learning Transported. 

Educators can also connect with other VR-interested teachers using the #ARVRinEdu hashtag on social media. “You're going to find a lot of resources from the community sharing ideas and inspiring one another," Donally says. 

She recommends the following courses: 

• ARVRinEDU.com
• AR Course
• VR Course
• Everfi Metaverse Course

5. How Do I Know My VR Lesson Is Successful?  

The more that our VR lessons can be student-directed, the better. “I think a successful lesson is letting the students own the technology,” Donally says. “When students are building and creating experiences, sharing those experiences with others, and that’s something that others can enjoy and maybe even be inspired by. I think that's really when we're going to see this kind of technology take off.” 

Too often there’s is a reluctance to hand students the reins. “We tend to want to control every piece. We have to know every aspect [of a lesson]. I don't know, every aspect,” Donally says.  “Every time I talk to teachers or students I learn something new. And I think when we can all look at it from an approach that we are in this together to learn this together. This technology is changing so rapidly, that we always have room for growth and to learn together. I think that that's when you have a successful lesson.” 

• Best VR Headsets for Schools
• The Metaverse: 5 Things Educators Should Know
• Using Virtual Reality To Enhance Existing Lessons

Phil Hintz had never experienced anything quite like it. 

It was 2018 and he was participating in an immersive virtual and augmented reality simulation in California that gave him a taste of the potential of the metaverse. After donning VR goggles, he found himself on the floor of the Amazon rainforest. He then began to rise upward, and when he looked at his arms, they were the branches of a tree. All around him he heard the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds. 

“You turn and anywhere you look, you're in the Amazon rainforest,” recalls the director of student information at Barrington 220 School District in Illinois. Hintz also felt the wind blowing on him courtesy of a nearby fan working in unison with the images in his goggles. 

After a time he heard a distant sound getting closer – this was possible through spatial sound technology – and eventually realized there were people in the forest coming to burn it down. Hintz not only saw the flames getting closer, he could smell it because someone nearby had lit a match as part of the simulation. When the experience concluded, Hintz and other participants were given tree seeds and encouraged to plant a tree, but something had also been planted inside Hintz. 

Researching the Metaverse 

Over the years, Hintz, a father of six, would think about the experience and the educational potential of similar experiences for all students but particularly students like his son, Joshua, who has Down syndrome. 

“He's always wanted to be a fireman, he could tell you everything there is about all the tools in the firehouse and what all the vehicles are used for, who runs them, you name it,” Hintz says. “In virtual reality, he could learn how to fight fires, and possibly even get burned in virtual reality, but not really get burned from a safety standpoint.” 

Hintz is now pursuing a doctorate in educational administration and researching the potential of VR and AR for teaching life and occupational skills to people with intellectual disabilities. The well-known educator was recently recognized with an Innovative Leader Award during Tech & Learning’s New Orleans Leadership Summit that stemmed from his role helping his district and others across his state make sure they were compliant with student data privacy laws.  

Developing Life Skills in the Metaverse

When teachers incorporate VR, AR, or other metaverse-type technology into their lessons, it can help build knowledge and enhance learning. “Studies have shown that students will not only have a greater understanding but a greater foundation on the lesson if they have a chance to experience it in that way, rather than just words on a page,” Hintz says. 

For students with intellectual disabilities, Hintz believes there is even more potential. So far there’s been limited research but the research that exists has shown promise. “One of the articles that I was able to find on students with special needs was actually middle school students learning how to use an ATM machine,” Hintz says. “There was an augmented reality app developed for the students to learn how to use an ATM machine. And they found that the more they practice it, when they actually went in and used the ATM machine for the first time, they had pretty much mastered it.” 

Hintz believes AR and VR could be used to teach those with intellectual disabilities life skills such as how to fill out a voting ballot. In the coming year, he hopes to build on the research that already exists in the field and is working with special ed staff in his district to design new VR and AR experiences for learners with intellectual disabilities. Ultimately, he hopes these types of training might help these students gain skills and have real-world experiences they might not otherwise have had. With enough practice in VR, Hintz believes his son might have the opportunity to “really fight a fire sometime.” 

• The Metaverse: 5 Things Educators Should Know
• Using Virtual Reality to Enhance Existing Lessons

The students’ faces tell the whole story. 

Even with their eyes covered by virtual reality headsets, you can see laughter and expressions of joy as they participate in virtual reality experiences tailored to their classroom lessons. 

“Students are just in awe of what they're seeing,” says Michael Jaber, coordinator of Instructional Technology Sheboygan Area School District in Wisconsin. 

For years, much of the conversation around virtual reality (VR) in school has focused on the future potential of the technology. However, districts across the country are increasingly offering students a variety of experiences built around existing lessons. 

While VR will likely improve dramatically in the future, there is a lot educators can and are doing with it right now. 

Virtual Reality in Action  

Jaber recently purchased a set of 32 ClassVR headsets for each of his department's three technology coaches to use with various classes. These headsets are in such demand that principals at various schools have begun looking to purchase their own sets. 

Using the headsets allows for access to Avanti’s World, an educational VR theme park and other VR experiences. Students have visited the island they read about in Lord of the Flies, explored classic paintings in three dimensions, visited the moon and Mars, and flown with bees. 

“It's been transformational for us,” Jaber says. 

The experiences students engage in are customizable and are directly tied to classroom activities. For instance, the students who visited the Lord of the Flies island were asked to go on a scavenger hunt to find key items from the book and then discussed how the VR rendering of the island differed from the picture they had in their heads. Younger learners read Little Red Riding Hood and then tour scenes from the book.

“It changes their learning and perspective so much when they're a part of it and it's not just words on paper,” Jaber says. 

Educators can also design their own custom-made VR experiences. “I took a 360 camera to one of the tech schools,” Jaber says. He went through the school’s welding area, recorded interviews, then uploaded it all so kids in a career class could take a 3D virtual tour of the facility without leaving their classroom. 

Virtual Reality Best Practices  

Géraldine Fauville, an assistant professor of Education Communication and Learning at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, says educators looking to incorporate extended reality (which encompasses virtual reality and augmented reality) should ask themselves three questions: 

1. What are the learning goals? “We know that XR is not appropriate for all kinds of learning goals,” says Fauville, who researches extended reality. “For example, if your goal is for students to memorize something, XR might not be what you need.”

2. Who are the learners? “You need to make sure that the hardware and application are accessible to your learners,” she says. “Is it age-appropriate, does the equipment fit in their hands, on their head?”

3. What is the context? “You don’t organize a learning activity the same way in a large classroom of high schoolers or in the library with young kids. It is important to make sure they will be safe, they won’t bump into each other or into furniture,” she says. “Moreover, you need to think about how the 10- or 20-minute long XR learning activity will fit into a larger learning context. How do you introduce the XR activity? What information do the learners need to understand before jumping in? How do you debrief after the XR learning activity? How do you continue the learning journey?” 

Jaber also believes context and connecting the VR experience to the lesson is essential. “You don't want to use it as a gimmick, you want to make sure that there's educational value,” he says. “You don't want it to be a substitute, you want it to be an enhancement of what teachers are doing.” 

• What is Virtual Reality? 
• How To Setup Virtual Reality Or Augmented Reality In Schools For Free
• The Metaverse: 5 Things Educators Should Know

If virtual reality or augmented reality are of interest to your school then this guide is what you need to get it for free. While the relatively new technologies may seem expensive and complex initially, when you look more closely it becomes clear that either can be very accessible.

Yes, a virtual reality (VR) headset or an augmented reality (AR) one can make for the most immersive experience for students – but neither needs to be a requisite, nor does one need to be expensive.

This guide will explain what VR and AR are, how these platforms can be used in schools, and the best ways to get either for free. Just want to know how to get these for free? Skip down to that section heading and read on to find out.

What is virtual reality or augmented reality and how can it be used in schools?

Both virtual reality and augmented reality are forms of digital creations that allow anyone to enter that world. In the case of VR, a headset can be worn in which screens display that world while motion sensors change what's shown based on where the wearer looks. This allows you see and move about in a totally virtual environment.

Augmented reality, on the other hand, combines reality and the digital world. This uses a camera and screens to overlay digital images on the real world. This allows users to look about and see virtual objects in a real space, but also to interact.

Both can be used in schools. Virtual reality is great for school trips to places that might otherwise be out of reach literally, or due to budget constraints. It can even allow for travelling through time and space to visit ancient lands or far off planets.

Augmented reality is better suited to real world use, such as experiments. For example, it can allow a physics teacher to offers complex and otherwise dangerous experiments in a safe environment, digitally. It can also make it far cheaper and easier to store equipment.

How can I get virtual reality or augmented reality free in schools?

While both VR and AR can be accessed for free, it's AR that's better suited to this format. For virtual reality, you really do need some sort of headset for the true experience. Of course, you can enter a virtual world and explore it using any device with a screen. 

Google Cardboard is a very affordable way to turn a smartphone into a virtual reality headset. It features two lenses and uses the phone's motion sensors to let the wearer look about in a virtual world. With lots of free apps and plenty of 360 VR content on YouTube, this is a super affordable way to get started.

While there are augmented reality headsets, these are expensive. It can be easy enough to get this AR-style setup with a smartphone or tablet. You don't need to have a headset with this, since you are looking at the real world. As such you can use a tablet or smartphone's camera and display, as well as motion sensors, to move about and see the virtual objects in a real room space.

So, the key to free AR and VR experiences is using a device that students or schools already own. Since smartphones and tablets do this, even on older devices, these should be accessible in many places. The only thing left to do then is to find the best content. Here are some of the best AR and VR experiences available for use in schools right now.

SkyView app

This app is all about space. It uses a smartphone's motion sensors to allow students to point the device at the sky and see what stars are above. This is great for use at night, when the real stars, planets, and other space objects can be seen, but also works just fine from wherever and whenever this is used.

This helps students to identify stars as well as constellations, planets, and even satellites.

Get SkyView for Android or iOS devices.

Froggipedia

A useful app for science classes in which dissecting an animal may be too brutal, too expensive, or simply too time-consuming. Froggipedia allows students to see the insides of a frog as if it were really there on the table in front of them. 

This is a safe way to work, cleanly, and allows students to observe how the insides of a living body are laid out and even how it all works together to sustain the animal. There is also a human anatomy app but this costs $24.99.

Get Froggipedia on the App Store.

Get the Human Anatomy Atlas for iOS.

Other free virtual labs can be found here. 

Berlin Blitz

For anyone wishing to take a trip back in time, this is a perfect way to experience history. The BBC has created the 360-degree virtual experience that's freely available to all and can be viewed easily from nearly any device using a web browser.

The experience lets you take a ride in a bomber plane in 1943 as captured by a journalist and camera crew as the plane flew over Berlin. It is immersive, allowing you to move the cursor to look about. It was described by the journalist, Vaughan-Thomas, as "the most beautifully horrible sight I’ve ever seen."

Watch the 1943 Berlin Blitz here.

Google Expeditions

Go anywhere in the world using Google Expeditions. As part of the Google Arts & Culture website, these virtual trips are freely available to all. 

These make distance no issues and even transcends time with past, present and future locations available to see. This also has follow-up materials to help teach classes based on the trip, making it more useful for students and easier to plan for teachers.

Go on a Google Expedition here.

Visit a museum virtually

Since lockdown, museums have started to offer virtual tours. These are now common with most big name museums offering some form of virtual visit. 

For example you can visit the National Museum of Natural History picking by permanent exhibits, past ones or current ones and more. You can even take a narrated tour for ease and maximum learning.

Check out the National Museum of Natural History tour here.

Check out other virtual field trips to museums, galleries, and more here.

Sandbox AR

The Sandbox AR app, from Discovery Education, is a great example of the power of augmented reality in the class. This allows students to build virtual worlds in the app and have them scale up to fill a room. Students could explore ancient Rome in the sports hall or lay out interactive tools on tabletops in a classroom.

This is free to use and works across even older devices. There are pre-built locations, with more added regularly, making this easy to use and explore with.

Get Sandbox AR on the App Store.

A group of leading virtual and extended reality (XR) educators have authored a report on the metaverse – a network of interconnected 3D virtual worlds that may be the next evolution of social communication and collaboration – and its potential in education. 

“After considering many conversations we have had with both educators and technology creators, we felt there was a real need to provide an introductory guide about XR, based on our expertise and grounded in the research to date on learning and immersive technology,” says Eileen McGivney, a PhD candidate and researcher at Harvard University, who adds that the report’s research team originally considered conducting a systematic review of research into extended reality or conducting new research looking at the technology in learning. 

Ultimately, she says, “We wanted to help the education community understand the technology, and the technology community to understand education.” 

Their evidence-based report, “An Introduction to Learning In the Metaverse,” was published by Meridian Treehouse. McGivney and other co-authors shared some highlights from the report. 

1. The Metaverse Doesn’t Actually Exist Yet  

“When talking about the metaverse, we mean a whole ecosystem of interconnected virtual spaces distributed across various technologies,” says Géraldine Fauville, an assistant professor of Education Communication and Learning at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. 

However, these interconnected virtual spaces or worlds are still in development. 

“This ideal of the metaverse doesn’t yet exist but the main technologies creating the foundation for its future do,” says Wesley Della Volla, founder of Meridian Treehouse. 

Despite the media coverage the concept has received, the metaverse still requires improvements in technology to become a reality, says Daniel Pimental, assistant professor of Immersive Media Psychology at the University of Oregon. “For example, advancements in artificial intelligence – computer vision – blockchain technology, and increased bandwidth with 5G connectivity, will form the foundation for the scalable, immersive learning ecosystem we envision,” he says. 

2. The Metaverse May Offer Great Potential for Educators 

In the future, if used correctly, the metaverse may have the potential to open new learning experiences to users. “For too long, learning has been thought of as transmitting information devoid of context, but when designed well, the metaverse can provide rich contexts for people to learn more than just content knowledge,” McGivney says. 

Fauville is interested in the ways in which students' and teachers’ increasingly complex avatars in the metaverse will impact education. “The virtual bodies we inhabit have profound short- and long-term effects on how we think, feel, and behave,” she says. “Giving learners autonomy over their self-presentation will undoubtedly influence their learning experience, from driving engagement to increasing the self-relevance of the subject matter.” 

3. The Metaverse Will Not Be A Silver Bullet  

The authors of this report agree there is enormous educational potential for metaverse, however, educators should temper expectations. “Let’s make sure we do not overestimate the potential of the metaverse for education,” Fauville says. 

The metaverse is not a silver bullet, Volla says. “It is part of the future of learning but cannot exist in a vacuum. Learning doesn’t stop once you take off the headset or turn off the AR filter.” 

The key will be finding creative ways to use the metaverse to supplement traditional learning experiences. “I would caution educators from trying to replicate classroom structures within XR, and rather take their time to play and explore the technology to consider new learning opportunities that they can’t usually provide,” McGivney says. “This includes giving students lots of agency and allowing them to create their own metaverse technologies and experiences.” 

4. The Metaverse Needs to Be Inclusive and Equitable

“The hardware that is currently used to access metaverse experiences, like VR headsets, are not affordable and are difficult to wear for many people from groups who are underrepresented in the technology industry,” McGivney says. “Many of these technologies are also designed in a commercial environment that prioritizes profit over things like data privacy and effective educational design. Further, there are issues we point to in the report about XR experiences themselves, which are not designed in a way that is beneficial or accessible for all populations.” 

The report points out, for example, that someone with limited mobility in their hands might struggle to use controllers. Others might have difficulty if they wear glasses, and most current headsets can’t be worn over head coverings and many hair styles. 

“The most pressing question is how to make use of the metaverse in learning in a judicious, inclusive, and effective way,” Fauville says. “Also when and how should learning activities in the metaverse be embedded into existing learning practices.” 

5. The Blueprint for Metaverse Education is Still Being Designed  

It’s important to remember that we are at the genesis of the metaverse in education and that many stakeholders should be involved in the evolution of its use going forward. 

“Taking a rigorous, evidence-based approach to building a blueprint for the future of learning is critical to success,” says Erika Woolsey, PhD, a visiting scholar at Stanford University. “We need as many people as possible collaborating on open-access research to answer questions ranging from big picture ones like, ‘Is utilizing new technology even beneficial to learning?’ to more tactical ones like, ‘What forms of interactivity influence a learner’s sense of agency?’”

Woolsey adds: “Right now we have a lot more questions than answers, and we think that’s the best place to start.” 

• VR in Education: Potential and Barriers for Effective Use
• What Is Virtual Reality?

Augmented reality, or AR, is a combination of virtual displays and real-world backgrounds. So this isn't VR, in which a headset is worn that cuts out the world to view screens as if in a digital location. This combines the two.

AR uses screens and cameras to overlay digital objects on the real world. As such, it is ideal for use in schools as it can create virtual items that might otherwise be prohibitively expensive or dangerous to have in the room.

Augmented reality can add digital elements to the real world to make textbooks 3D or turn a classroom into a virtual escape room. It can also mean a large space such as a gym can become an area populated with structures to explore, as if transporting students to a far away or ancient land.

This guide aims to explain all you need to know about augmented reality in education.

• Virtual Reality Teaching: Successes and Challenges
• Best VR and AR Systems For Schools

What is augmented reality?

Augmented reality is, as the name suggests, taking the real world and changing it by overlaying digital objects. Consequently, it requires a display and screen to work. While the most immersive way to do this is by using a headset such as Microsoft Hololens, these are still very expensive bits of kit.

That said, there are now more and more augmented reality headsets with cameras built-in, which can be used to feed in your surroundings and overlay digital objects. As opposed to virtual reality, in which even the background is digital too.

There are also more and more augmented reality apps appearing now for use on smartphones and tablets. Since Apple launched its ARKit, it's made developing this kind of software easier than ever. What once required huge amounts of processing power can now be done even on older devices.

Augmented reality can be used to place a virtual character in a room, to bring a book to life with videos, to touch and interact with a virtual experiment, and much more. 

How can augmented reality be used in education?

Augmented reality, as you can see in the above image, can directly enhance the classroom experience for students. At its most basic, an app can be used with a textbook, for example, to bring that content to life. Images from the book can be placed into a 3D format in front of the student. In some cases it can also allow the student to interact with the object, manipulating it to see the effect.

From learning human anatomy and the star system to performing a virtual experiment, the possibilities are myriad. Imagine an entire class being able to carry out a physics experiment without the need for any equipment, as each student simply uses their own devices. 

Not only can this be cost saving but it can also save time and valuable storage space. It can also allow an opportunity to try experiments that might be dangerous or not possible in a real school scenario.

Exploring and building virtual worlds, overlaid in real space, is another option. As you can see in the images above and below, students can create using building blocks and then walk around their scaled up creations. In the case of Sandbox AR, students can explore ancient civilizations on the other side of the world that might otherwise be out of reach to them.

Manipulate parts in a virtual machine, see data overlaid on the parts of a real system, follow guidance on how to operate a device looking through that AR display. The possibilities are vast and growing every day.

How can schools get augmented reality?

Schools can invest in headsets, with many sold in bulk now, aimed at entire class use. These often come with supporting software, which is designed specifically for teachers to use, guiding the students in the augmented virtual world.

But there are more affordable ways, such as using already owned hardware including smartphones of students or the school, and tablets too. As long as the device has a camera and screen, isn't more than about five years old, and runs Android or iOS, it should be able to run augmented reality. There are even lots of free AR apps available now to get students and teachers started right away.

Since Apple introduced software advances that make building virtual reality easier, it has grown massively in education. One leading name is Discovery Education, who offers a good example of augmented reality with their new app that was featured at Bett 2022.

We've also compiled a list of the best virtual and augmented reality headsets for schools, which shows the options out there and can give you an idea of pricing.

• Virtual Reality Teaching: Successes and Challenges
• Best VR and AR Systems For Schools

Virtual reality, or VR, is a digital world that was developed decades ago but has come into its own in recent years. This is because only now is the technology small enough, powerful enough, and affordable enough to reach the mainstream. For those reasons, virtual reality is now starting to get used in education.

VR represents a new media platform that can allow for a more immersive way for students to learn. But, importantly, it can also be an option to offer greater opportunities and experiences to all students. 

For example, students in positions of physical limitations, or schools with limited funding, are now able to experience virtual trips to real places they could not have reached before. 

Read on to find out all you need to know about virtual reality in education.

• Virtual Reality Teaching: Successes and Challenges
• Best VR and AR Systems For Schools

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-based system that uses software, screens on each eye, and interactive controls to allow a person to enter a virtual, digital world. It can also be achieved using tablets and smartphones with the screen as the virtual world, but this is a less immersive way and often applies to augmented rather than virtual reality.

By placing the displays close to the eyes, usually in a headset, it allows the person to feel as if they're looking at a giant screen, close-up. The makes for a very immersive view that is coupled with motion sensors so when you move your head the view changes, just as in the physical world.

While virtual reality has been used widely for gaming it's also now being used in work-based training and, more recently, in education. One of the big factors in this relatively recent uptake was Google Cardboard, which used a super affordable cardboard phone holder with lenses built in to create virtual worlds. This works with smartphones, allowing students and teachers to easily and affordably experience VR.

Since then, virtual reality has had lots of funding thrown at it by big name companies, universities, and technology brands. With a global value at $6.37 billion back in 2021, which should reach $32.94 billion in 2026, it's clear this is a fast-growing area that's going to mean big changes in education long term.

How can virtual reality be used in education?

One of the most powerful ways to show off virtual reality in schools is to take virtual tours. This can mean visiting a location, anywhere in the world, without the usual issues of cost, transport, waiver forms, and even crowds to worry about. Instead, students and teachers can slip on VR headsets and all go on a tour together. But it goes further as this can also go beyond time, allowing a class to go back and visit an ancient city that's now gone, for example.

The uses for VR extend into a variety of subjects, however, for science, for example, students could visit the stars or carry out virtual lab experiments safely using digital versions of the real thing but that react in the same way.

This goes further with some schools actually setting up virtual classrooms that children can visit remotely. The Optima Academy charter school in Florida provides its 1,300 students with Oculus VR headsets to participate in virtual lessons. This can include history lessons taught in the Oval Office, virtually, or among the planets for astronomy.

How can schools get virtual reality?

Getting virtual reality into schools consists of two main parts: the access to virtual reality headsets themselves and the software required to run it all. There are now companies that specialize in providing kits with enough headsets for an entire class. Most also now have their own software, compatible with others, which allows teachers to manage the experience of the class and gain access to lots of educational apps and games.

There are also apps that offer virtual reality experiences on phones and tablets without the need for a headset. Think Google Earth, in which you can explore the planet virtually by panning and zooming about. That's not as immersive, but certainly classes as a virtual reality experience. 

Since Apple introduced software advances that make building virtual reality easier this has grown massively in education. One leading name is Discovery Education, who offers a good example of augmented reality with their new app that was featured at Bett 2022.

We've also compiled a list of the best virtual and augmented reality headsets for schools, which shows the options out there and can give you an idea of pricing.

• Virtual Reality Teaching: Successes and Challenges
• Best VR and AR Systems For Schools

A research team at Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab surveyed and interviewed more than 300 parents and legal guardians about their children’s virtual reality (VR) use between April and July 2020. 

The team led by Marijn Mado and Dr. Géraldine Fauville recently published their findings in Technology, Mind, and Behavior.  

Key takeaways include: 

• Children’s median VR usage increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes per day since the start of the pandemic
• Parents saw potential for VR in education, particularly when VR experiences were enhanced by supporting materials before or after the lesson
• Many parents had difficulty finding educational VR resources for their children
• Some women surveyed in the study experienced motion sickness using VR and had more concerns about the safety of the technology
• Despite most VR headset companies suggesting 13 years as the age limit, many younger children used the technology.

As VR technology grows increasingly popular, educators looking to incorporate it into their classrooms should keep in mind its strengths and limitations. 

“VR can provide this inspiring spark, and it can start discussions in our classroom,” Mado says. “But I think in order to really properly learn, and to get a very nuanced kind of rational view of what's going on in a certain social context, it's important to scaffold VR with all sorts of educational materials.”

VR’s Potential for Education: Context is Key  

One mother interviewed for the study described how while in lockdown her daughter spent time exploring the Anne Frank House VR experience, which gave her an appreciation of just how small the space in which Anne Frank hid was and sparked other important conversations. 

However, many parents talked about how their children need contextualization of the VR experience. “The Key is a VR experience that is really premised on the refugee crisis, but it's also quite abstract,” Mado says. “One father told us his son went through The Key, but never ended up really making these connections with the refugee crisis and what that meant, even though his son had been learning about this topic in school and had been learning about it in other contexts.” 

Meanwhile, another family used The Key experience to more meaningfully engage in conversations about the refugee crisis. The difference, the researchers concluded, was all about context. 

“It's like any kind of learning material,” Fauville says. “You would not have students running an experiment in a lab without having them understand some principle, and understanding what are they going to do, why they are going to do it, how they are going to do it.” 

After a lab activity, there would be a debriefing session, which is a model educators should follow with VR learning experiences, Fauville says. 

VR Accessibility  

The parents surveyed for the study were found through the research team’s social networks. Because these are technology researchers, the participants they found tended to be tech-savvy VR enthusiasts and many worked for VR companies. Therefore, they were perhaps better able to guide their children in the use of the technology than an average parent from the general population might have been. However, even the parents surveyed had trouble finding educational VR experiences for their children. 

“We can imagine that this problem might be even bigger for someone who buys a VR headset because their kid is interested without having a special connection to that world,” Fauville says. 

To help parents find the educational resources that are available in VR, the team put together a list of the 169 VR applications included in the survey, which now serves as a resource for parents and educators. 

More troublingly, the study found that VR technology was gendered, which may hinder its usage among women and girls. Some of the women discussed experiencing cybersickness, a type of motion sickness associated with screen and VR use. “The women in our study who mentioned symptoms of visually induced motion sickness are no anomaly,” the paper noted. “As studies find that females are more likely than males to suffer from visual-induced motion sickness, such as cybersickness, when exposed to VR.” 

Previous research suggests this may be because the VR kits are designed for men and not women. Men often have larger interpupillary distance (distance between pupils) and most VR headsets cater to the interpupillary distance of men, which might increase the incidence of cybersickness in women, Mado says. In addition, the headsets can be uncomfortable with long hair. 

Beyond these physical concerns, there were other factors that seemed to make females less likely to enjoy VR. Several men surveyed mentioned that their wives have fears about hardware close to children’s brains and the disconnect from physical reality. The study authors also noted, “Women also appear less interested in VR due to their disinterest in video games and computer culture in general.” 

“One of the recommendations that we have is to include women in the design process, and actually all stages of VR development to make sure that it becomes and remains a digital technology that's equally accessible to women as it is to men,” Mado says. 

• Best VR and AR Systems for Schools 2021
• How VR and AR Can Be Used to Support Students with Special Needs

Sandbox AR comes from Discovery Education as an award-winning digital media platform that now serves over 4.5 million students worldwide across 140 countries, which isn't new. What is new is the Sandbox AR app itself.

Launched this year and shown off at Bett 2022, the augmented reality app gives a glimpse into how education could work in the future, starting now. The app, available on iPad only at launch, takes advantage of the device's camera, display, motion sensors, and high-speed processors to meld reality and digital creations.

But how does this actually work? We took a tour with Phil Birchinall, Discovery Education's senior director of immersive content and teacher of 30 years.

• Best of Bett 2022

How Does Sandbox AR Work?

The app allows students and teachers to enter an empty space, say a school hall, and hold up the tablet with the camera on. Instead of displaying the empty room, the app overlays digital creations in that space. You can then move about in the real world to explore the virtual creation.

This could mean, as shown in the above real-world example picture, that students are able to explore an ancient Roman city as if it were really there right in front of them. That opens up the possibilities for school trips, allowing students not only to travel the globe virtually but to visit certain places in time as well.

What Makes Sandbox AR Unique For Education?

Augmented reality has been around for years now, although upgrades in Apple hardware and software – following the launch of ARKit – are making that more accessible than ever. As a result, this platform has been created to simplify the process of using AR while also creating with it. Consequently, any iPad since Gen 5, in 2017, will now be powerful enough to run this app.

"We are aware of equity in schools and wanted to make sure this was accessible to as many as possible," says Phil Birchinall.

What would have previously taken super powerful computers to generate AR environments is now made available to teachers and students. Sandboxes, as these spaces are called, allow students or teachers to build virtual realities to visit or to share with the class – a bit like Minecraft in AR.

A host of pre-built sandboxes are available, allowing classes to take trips easily without the need to build. This can mean historic trips through time and space. You can also share these using QR codes, a great idea for melding with the real world. Imagine tables in a class, each with a QR code students can scan to reveal a different experiment or trip on that area.

Birchinall points out the choice of this AI over VR: "We have worked with VR for years but it's AR that works so well for education. This opens the experience up so that a group of students can explore a space together in this more sociable way of experiencing the digital world."

How Can Sandbox AR Be Used In Education?

We've already touched on what Sandbox AR is capable of but there is so much more. In fact, this is a virtual creation space so it is only limited by the creativity of its users. Think of how Minecraft has grown since its creation – this is a bit like that in terms of creative freedom, only with a far more lifelike and immersive experience. 

The key here is that this can grow as is needed by educators and students. "We plan to have developments for major events, like Tutankhamun’s 100th anniversary that’s coming up, there will be specialist Egyptian build materials for that," Birchinall says. "But we’re also building based on what educators are asking for. We can do this with direct requests and also from the user data we see from our established De:X platform. Where this grows is up to those that use it in school and we're really excited about that."

At the start of my interview with Kathryn J. Biacindo at Fresno State and two of her graduate students, I had a weird thought: “My hair looks unprofessional.” 

What made this thought surprising was that no one was really seeing my hair. We were meeting in a virtual environment Biacindo uses for teaching and my worry was about the appearance of my avatar because while designing it I had chosen to mimic my pandemic-lengthened beard and hair. 

My self-conscious misgivings -- which quickly subsided -- showed me just how immersive a virtual environment can be. It is one of many tools Biacindo uses to create what she calls “total accessibility” in her class. 

Biacindo employs this virtual environment and other technologies, plus pedagogical strategies, in all her classes to create as many avenues as possible for students to digest material, participate in class, and complete assignments. All this adds up to increased opportunities for success for students from all backgrounds. 

Biacindo’s data shows that students working in a virtual learning environment with inclusive content:

• Had higher completion rates and assessment scores versus non-inclusive VLEs
• Self-reported they were less stressed and more motivated to complete their work compared to the non-inclusive course
• Learned more easily, as measured by time to complete and scores on finished assignments
• Scored higher and completed more extra credit when introduced to alt-text options

“The biggest takeaway is they perform better, spending probably 50 percent less time in the course,” Biancindo says. 

Here are some of the tools and strategies she uses to accomplish that. 

Flexible Schedule and Self-Pacing 

Biacindo’s Advanced Seminar in Educational Psychology is all online, with six synchronous sessions and many asynchronous requirements. The students vote on the schedule for these synchronous sessions. “The students choose the schedule that best fits their needs, I do not determine the schedule,” Biacindo says. 

Students also have wide latitude as to when they file assignments, which allows them to complete the course at their own pace. Traditionalists might worry that without regular due dates, students will fall hopelessly behind, but Biacindo says this isn’t the case, even for students who have a tendency to binge course material. “I have the research that proves that they do better, even my bingers,” she says. “Students are more likely to get the work done when they have the flexibility than when it's a deadline they missed -- then they just give up.” 

Librado Barocio, a student in the class, agrees. Baracio is getting his Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction and is also Fresno State football’s Director of On Campus Recruiting, which makes scheduling his studies difficult. “It's hard to find time, being a coach. We have early mornings, late nights,” he says. “One thing that I loved about this class is how it worked with our practice and game schedules.” 

Multiple Mediums to Consume and Present Course Material  

Because some students prefer to listen to material rather than read it, Biacindo teaches students to use the speech-to-text feature in Microsoft’s Immersive Reader, which is built in to most Microsoft Office programs. They can also use the speech-to-text feature in Blackboard Ally -- a tool that is part of the LMS used for the course. Ally can also convert PDF texts into more accessible formats that are easier to read on phones, plus there is a translation function, which Biacindo says is key for inclusivity as many students who speak English as a second language may still prefer to learn in their native language. “At Fresno State, California, we are a Hispanic-serving institution, so many of my students, probably up to three-quarters of my class, are native Spanish speakers, and when they can have an assignment translated into Spanish for them, they will do that,” Biacindo says. 

Barocio regularly uses the text-to-speech option. “Sometimes I might not have that time to open up a book and read but if I'm doing something in the office or late at night, you know I can have that Immersive Reader play and just listen to it,” he says. “It is definitely helpful with my schedule to kind of get classwork done, stay ahead, and make sure that I'm able to complete my assignments.” 

Virtual Environment  

One of the most important aspects of Biacindo’s course is Virbela, the immersive virtual environment she uses. Reminiscent of online RPGs, logging in takes you to a shared campus with students from other universities. I meet Biacindo and her students in her private conference room and classroom suite that is passcode protected. 

Exploring this suite and the larger campus feels like playing a video game, in a good way. Within this environment, students can share aspects of their personality through how they design their avatar and what they wear, but don’t need to worry about their actual appearance. 

The experience is surprisingly immersive and comes without some of the downsides of other online meeting options. For instance, those using avatars in virtual environments do not seem to experience Zoom fatigue. One reason for this is there are no cameras so there’s less worry about physical appearance. However, Luke Jackson, a student in the class studying for his Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction, thinks it goes further than that. Jackson is special assistant coach for the Fresno State men's basketball program and is a veteran of many video meetings. “In Zoom you feel kind of trapped,” he says. “Here you’re in a classroom, your avatar can get up and take time to dance when it's a five-minute break.” 

You can also take time to navigate the virtual world. After one recent synchronous session in Biacindo’s class, Jackson explored the campus and found a jetski that he then used to ride around a nearby lake. He notes that while he may still be sitting in front of a screen as he would be on Zoom it feels different. “You have freedom of movement even if it is just an avatar, it kind of loosens up some of that stress and tension of sitting there being in a box,” he says. 

• 5 Ways to Make Edtech More Inclusive
• 20 Sites and Apps for Special Education

Part way through the 2020-21 academic year, Cristina Lopes, like so many other educators, was tired of lecturing via video. 

“As a professor, the experience of teaching online on Zoom is talking to a black screen, and seeing only yourself, in the little preview,” says Lopes, professor of informatics at University of California, Irvine. “It's like you're talking to yourself.” 

But unlike so many other teachers, Lopes had an alternative. More than a decade ago she helped create OpenSimulator, an open source multiplatform, multiuser 3D application server. 

Lopes decided at the end of the fall semester that she would use OpenSimulator to create a virtual reality experience for the students in her introductory computer class “How Computers Work.” 

Using winter break to prepare, Lopes built the class into an immersive virtual world that hosted every aspect of the course. Lectures were conducted in virtual reality and students had their own treehouse that served as their home in the world. While in the virtual environment, students would collaborate with one another on group projects and interact with immersive simulations. 

Virtual Reality: Strengths  

Lopes used the visual potential of virtual reality to full effect. “I developed simulations of computers, blown up so that you can actually see what's going on inside,” she says. “You'll see exactly what happens in the registers, in the memory, and the CPU.” 

She also created simulations of how information is sent on the internet. For example, students had projects in which they worked with these simulations to learn more about computer hardware. Lopes says this aspect of the class went really well and is something she will work into future classes, even those offered in person. 

“In introduction to computers, the projects tend to be very abstract because you're not going to put 150 students in a physical lab and give them physical hardware,” she says. “So the alternative to simulations is just completely abstract reading or maybe watching videos. Simulations really bring something super valuable to the table that we didn't have before.” 

 Virtual Reality: Areas That Could Use Improvement 

Lopes lectured within the virtual environment. She appeared on a screen within a large virtual hall. She also streamed these lectures on Twitch. As the semester progressed, more and more students were opting to watch the lectures on Twitch rather than logging into the virtual environment. Eventually, Lopes gave in to student preference and moved the lectures out of the virtual world entirely. 

In the future she will likely plan on having the lectures take place outside of the virtual environment. “The projects, the simulated computers, and the simulated internet, that's the part that I think worked really well,” she says. “The lectures, not so much.” 

The Future of Virtual Reality in the Classroom 

Lopes is scheduled to teach “How Computers Work” in person this fall but plans on incorporating the virtual world into her class so students can learn from the simulations and work with some for projects.  

Educators can use OpenSimulator to create their own virtual class experiences. Lopes has posted demos of some of her work online. She is also willing to share a template for the environment she used in her class with those who contact her. 

While there is a lot of potential for virtual reality, Lopes believes that for now it is best used strategically. “A virtual reality environment is one of those things that is always so close, but never here. It's been like that for the past 30 years or so,” she says. “The technology is there, but it's a little bit clunky. I think until something radically easier comes along, the right thing to do is to use it as an enhancement of other technologies for teaching.” 

• 3D Game Design: What Educators Need to Know
• Why Zoom Fatigue Occurs and How Educators Can Overcome It

The best virtual lab software can recreate hands-on learning experiences in a digital environment, helping students experiment and explore without needing access to a physical classroom or lab space. That makes these platforms useful not only for remote learning, but also for extending practical science work beyond normal lesson time.

Virtual lab software is especially effective for STEM teaching, giving students the chance to safely carry out experiments, test theories, and learn lab techniques in a secure virtual setting. It also opens access to advanced tools and simulations that many schools may not have available in real-world labs.

From running interactive science experiments to exploring materials and reactions at a molecular level, the best virtual lab software offers a wide variety of learning opportunities. With more options now available than ever before, these are the standout virtual lab platforms worth considering for schools and educators.

Best Virtual Lab Software 2026

1. Labster: Best virtual lab software overall

Labster offers one of the most well-finished and comprehensive virtual lab experiences available for schools, colleges, and universities. The platform combines game-style learning with detailed science simulations that allow students to perform experiments -- in a safe digital environment -- while still following real scientific methods and processes.

The library includes hundreds of simulations covering biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and more, with content designed to align closely with curriculum standards. Students can interact with advanced lab equipment and complex scenarios that many schools may not otherwise have access to in person.

Teachers have access to built-in assessment tools, LMS integration, analytics, and progress tracking that make it easier to monitor understanding and engagement. While this is a premium platform and may be more advanced than some younger learners require, it is one of the best all-round virtual lab options available.

2. Explore Learning Gizmos: Best for support

ExploreLearning Gizmos is designed specifically with classroom teaching in mind, offering a large collection of math and science simulations aligned to K-12 curricula. The platform is great for teachers who want ready-made activities that integrate smoothly into existing lesson plans.

Each Gizmo simulation includes supporting teaching materials, assessment tools, vocabulary support, and lesson guidance, making it easier to scaffold learning for different ability levels. The browser-based system also works well across devices, helping students continue learning both in school and at home.

While the visuals are less cinematic than some competitors, the curriculum focus and ease of use make this a practical and highly teacher-friendly option. This is great for schools that want to integrate virtual labs into day-to-day teaching.

3. PhET Interactive Simulations: Best for resources

PhET Interactive Simulations stands out as one of the best free STEM simulation resources for educators. Developed by the University of Colorado Boulder, the platform offers a huge range of browser-based simulations covering physics, chemistry, biology, math, and earth science.

This gives great accessibility and simplicity. Simulations are easy to launch, work across devices, and allow students to experiment freely with scientific concepts in a visual and interactive way. Teachers can use these tools for demonstrations, guided exploration, or independent learning activities.

PhET focuses on open-ended experimentation rather than structured lesson pathways. That flexibility remains one of its biggest strengths. For schools looking for a high-quality free option, this is still among the very best available.

4. NOVA Labs: Best for quality and fun content

NOVA Labs from PBS is designed for middle and high school students, with a focus on research challenges, which are fun and engaging.

This is built around lots of high-quality video content that covers plenty, from designing RNA to predicting solar storms. With quiz answers and notes recorded, this can be a useful assessment tool as well as a student-led learning experience.

The ability to merge online tasks such as bonding base pairs, say, with learning content, helps to gamify learning for students. While there could be better integration with all levels and class topics, this is a great way to get students learning through active engagement.

5. Inq-ITS: Best for NGSS learning

INq-ITS combines virtual science labs with assessment and real-time analytics to support inquiry-based learning. The platform is useful for schools following NGSS standards, using AI-supported analysis to help identify where students may be struggling during activities.

Students can work through simulations independently while the software tracks engagement, progress, and scientific reasoning skills. Teachers receive detailed feedback and performance insights without needing to manually assess every stage of the process.

The interface is more education-focused than on looks, but the combination of virtual experimentation and actionable learning data make it really useful.

6. LabXchange: Best for connected science learning

LabXchange from Harvard takes a broader approach to virtual labs by combining simulations, videos, pathways, and learning content into a connected digital science platform. Originally developed by Harvard University, the system is designed to help students move between theory, experimentation, and real-world scientific applications.

The platform includes virtual lab activities across biology, genetics, chemistry, and health sciences, alongside teacher tools and customizable learning options. Educators can build and share collections of content, making it useful for structured lessons and independent exploration.

Its clean design and accessibility make it appealing for blended learning environments where students can learn both inside and outside the classroom.

7. PraxiLabs: Best for advanced STEM simulations

PraxiLabs offers immersive science lab simulations, focused in chemistry, physics, and biology. The platform recreates realistic laboratory environments in which students can try experiments, step by step, while learning correct scientific procedures and safety protocols.

The detailed visual presentation helps make complex concepts easier to understand for students. The platform also supports both English and Arabic, helping broaden accessibility for international schools and learners.

Teachers can track progress and assign activities while students gain access to experiments that may otherwise be difficult, expensive, or unsafe to recreate in a classroom setting.

8. The Concord Consortium: Best for inquiry-led STEM exploration

The Concord Consortium offers a collection of interactive STEM tools and simulations all about inquiry-based learning. The platform covers climate science, environmental modelling, data analysis, and scientific investigation.

These tools encourage students to explore systems, test ideas, and analyze outcomes through experimentation and modelling. That makes the platform useful for deeper STEM exploration and project-based learning.

Many resources are browser-based and free, helping teachers integrate advanced STEM concepts into lessons without needing specialist hardware or expensive equipment.

Immersive reality (IR) is becoming more accessible, especially at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, where the staff is piloting a browser-based IR world using VirBELA Open Campus. 

“IR started with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality, and now it’s evolved into IR,” says Ray Lefebvre, vice chancellor and chief information officer at UMass Boston. One of the best things about IR, he says, is that you don’t need an expensive headset like you do for most VR. Instead, you can use a computer monitor or laptop screen to participate in an IR world.

In an IR world, you create an avatar and move around a virtual environment. For faculty and staff at UMass Boston, they can go into virtual offices, meeting spaces, and libraries to communicate, engage, hang out, and learn. “I think this could reinvent higher education,” says Lefebvre. “An immersive reality platform will help us to make sure we truly connect with today's digital native students.”

Lefebvre got started by testing Open Campus earlier this year after participating in a CIO panel about coping with COVID and discovering that another college was exploring IR. 

Within the IR world, the UMass Boston team has access to 36 offices and four conference rooms, including an IT office suite with a reception area. Lefebvre holds staff meetings in the small IT conference room. He can walk around, sit in a chair, talk to staff via the audio capabilities, share his screen, and upload content.

Although the college isn’t using IR for teaching and learning just yet, the platform is being piloted to see how students and faculty might use it in the fall and beyond. Earlier this summer, the platform was used for an IT art project. 

“Each year, our IT student workers take photos on campus and we showcase their work in one of our galleries,” says Lefebvre. “This year, we created a gallery and showed the photos in our IR world. People can come to the IR gallery and check out the photos as if they were in the physical gallery.”

Creating Opportunities

As word of mouth spread on campus, the School of Nursing has reached out and wants to use the platform for poster sessions and possibly for welcome sessions. The History department is also considering the platform. 

The IR world offers customizable classrooms that can be configured in multiple ways, from small groups to workstations. An auditorium that can be accessed by up to 150 avatars is available, perfect for larger lecture-style courses or events.

“We’ve discovered a lot of use cases for this—everything from hosting meetings to offering tech support,” says Lefebvre. “It also seems like a great way to get students engaged.”

For now, he’s content to host meetings in the IR suite and be available for nonscheduled chats. “Pre-COVID, people stopped by my office all the time,” says Lefebvre. “I’ve been starting my day by sitting in my virtual office and people walk over and we have great drop-in conversations—no dialing, no calendars, no setting up a Zoom.”

Open Campus pricing starts at $100 per month for 10 users, but there’s also a free version to explore. Other vendors in the space include Vectorform and Mursion, and Lefebvre encourages anyone interested to do their research and explore each one.

Creating Opportunities

As word of mouth spread on campus, the School of Nursing has reached out and wants to use the platform for poster sessions and possibly for welcome sessions. The History department is also considering the platform. 

The IR world offers customizable classrooms that can be configured in multiple ways, from small groups to workstations. An auditorium that can be accessed by up to 150 avatars is available, perfect for larger lecture-style courses or events.

“We’ve discovered a lot of use cases for this—everything from hosting meetings to offering tech support,” says Lefebvre. “It also seems like a great way to get students engaged.”

For now, he’s content to host meetings in the IR suite and be available for nonscheduled chats. “Pre-COVID, people stopped by my office all the time,” says Lefebvre. “I’ve been starting my day by sitting in my virtual office and people walk over and we have great drop-in conversations—no dialing, no calendars, no setting up a Zoom.”

Open Campus pricing starts at $100 per month for 10 users, but there’s also a free version to explore. Other vendors in the space include Vectorform and Mursion, and Lefebvre encourages anyone interested to do their research and explore each one.

Creating Opportunities

As word of mouth spread on campus, the School of Nursing has reached out and wants to use the platform for poster sessions and possibly for welcome sessions. The History department is also considering the platform. 

The IR world offers customizable classrooms that can be configured in multiple ways, from small groups to workstations. An auditorium that can be accessed by up to 150 avatars is available, perfect for larger lecture-style courses or events.

“We’ve discovered a lot of use cases for this—everything from hosting meetings to offering tech support,” says Lefebvre. “It also seems like a great way to get students engaged.”

For now, he’s content to host meetings in the IR suite and be available for nonscheduled chats. “Pre-COVID, people stopped by my office all the time,” says Lefebvre. “I’ve been starting my day by sitting in my virtual office and people walk over and we have great drop-in conversations—no dialing, no calendars, no setting up a Zoom.”

Open Campus pricing starts at $100 per month for 10 users, but there’s also a free version to explore. Other vendors in the space include Vectorform and Mursion, and Lefebvre encourages anyone interested to do their research and explore each one.

Creating Opportunities

As word of mouth spread on campus, the School of Nursing has reached out and wants to use the platform for poster sessions and possibly for welcome sessions. The History department is also considering the platform. 

The IR world offers customizable classrooms that can be configured in multiple ways, from small groups to workstations. An auditorium that can be accessed by up to 150 avatars is available, perfect for larger lecture-style courses or events.

“We’ve discovered a lot of use cases for this—everything from hosting meetings to offering tech support,” says Lefebvre. “It also seems like a great way to get students engaged.”

For now, he’s content to host meetings in the IR suite and be available for nonscheduled chats. “Pre-COVID, people stopped by my office all the time,” says Lefebvre. “I’ve been starting my day by sitting in my virtual office and people walk over and we have great drop-in conversations—no dialing, no calendars, no setting up a Zoom.”

Open Campus pricing starts at $100 per month for 10 users, but there’s also a free version to explore. Other vendors in the space include Vectorform and Mursion, and Lefebvre encourages anyone interested to do their research and explore each one.

Social studies and history educators always look for ways to bring lessons to life, introducing the world to the students and the students to the world. Tech helps not only inside the classroom, but also from the living room for students working with updated Chromebook software.

We discuss Google Expeditions with James Fester, who as technology coach led his former California district in an early Google Expeditions Pioneer Program.

Who: James Fester, Technology Integration Specialist

Where: Hill-Murray School, Independent 6-12 School in Saint Paul, MN

What: Using Google Expeditions and Tour Builder to enhance learning

Google Expeditions is more than just a way to get your students to "virtually" visit different locations. The ever-expanding list of experiences (around 900+ currently) includes topics in social studies, science, the arts, and career and technical education (CTE). 

Expeditions can become an engaging entry into your next learning unit or another form of input for student-centered research projects. It helps students connect class content to the real world by providing a window to the places and people that need to know what students are learning. By using the power of place, students understand the significance of the learning objectives they are trying to meet. 

You can illustrate the importance of angles and parabolas by leading students through a tour of world bridges. They can see how important an understanding of food webs is to park rangers. This kind of authentic connection just doesn't happen with textbooks and worksheets.

Getting Started

Students can access Google Expeditions in two ways: Using mobile devices with viewers, or through Chromebooks. The mobile devices tend to be more popular as the gyroscopes in the devices react to the student as they turn, creating a more immersive feeling. This is a great option for schools with a BYOD policy or during distance learning as the entire experience can be completed on a student's own phone or device. 

Biggest Challenge

The biggest challenge for schools is probably the cost. Electronics retailers such as Best Buy offer premade Expeditions Kits for classes of 10, 20, or 30 students, but these cost thousands of dollars. There are also issues around the maintenance of the devices and set-up that require the support of an in-school technician or dedicated teacher. 

Until recently Google Expeditions required Android devices, but now you can access the platform from any Chromebook, which is a huge win for schools. Students can use the touchscreen or their mouse to "drag" their point of view as their teacher leads the experiences. 

If the Chromebook route is your choice you'll want to make sure to have someone familiar with technical requirements to check and see if your school's devices can handle the AR content.  

Unexpected Pros and Cons

Two things that we didn't expect was the popularity of Google Expeditions throughout the school and the release of Tour Builder. When we first purchased these devices we assumed that they would be used primarily as science and history tools. Before long, however, the sign-out list included art, world language, and ELA teachers as well. 

Teachers heard from their students about how incredible Google Expeditions-infused lessons were and wanted to harness that interest in their own lessons. This proved to be both a good and bad problem. The popularity resulted in that the kits were constantly checked out, meaning that maintenance and issues of equity across schools needed to be addressed. However, since so many teachers were using the platform, we soon found that they were sharing lessons and best practices with each other on their own, creating a home-grown support system. 

What NOT To Do

Make sure that you don't overuse Expeditions. The power of VR and AR tech is the way it captures student attention and illustrates tricky-to-understand concepts in a simple way. But the magic soon disappears if it is overused or becomes "just another thing" in the classroom. 

Also, if students experience too many Expeditions experiences in one day they can get motion sick. (Don't ask us how we learned this...) 

Pro Tips

Google Expeditions works well as a standalone experience, but even better when it is the focus of inquiry-based lessons. Pairing the content with instructional strategies such as visible thinking routines or part of a project-based learning experience amplifies the effectiveness and the eventual payoff.

Prior to the release of Tour Builder, teachers were relegated to the premade selection of programs. Now, with a little bit of training, they can create their own virtual tours, making it possible to tailor the content to their classes. This has been a game-changer for educators who felt that the catalog of programs missed the mark somehow.    

If your class field trip was canceled, you can use these tips to take your students on a Virtual Field Trip

Finding Funding

Premade kits from Best Buy or other retailers are the most expensive options. Using Chromebooks that you already own is the cheapest and a good way to see if Expedition kits are worth investing resources. 

One strategy that I've seen work in larger districts is to split the cost between several schools and then do a timeshare in which each school gets the kit for a set amount of time. Another method is trying to assemble your own from a combination of older or donated devices and newly purchased ones. A school I worked with previously put out a call to their parents for old phones and within two weeks had assembled a class set of expeditions devices.

Tech Tools

• Edpuzzle
• Screencastify
• Google Hangouts
• Google Forms
• Flipgrid

 I would highly recommend the Google art and culture website and Google Earth Tour. I’m actually beta testing Google Earth’s tour creator, which is not yet available to the public but is incredible! Builds on many of the same principles that make Google Expeditions so great. 

Edtech in Action is a new series of articles from attendees and speakers of Tech & Learning's events. Click here to learn more about these events and to apply to attend.

Where: Pickerington Local School District, Pickerington, Ohio

Initiative: Virtual reality field trips

Imagine walking into a classroom and taking all of your students on a field trip anywhere in the world. We take students to Ellis Island, colleges around the world, the Great Barrier Reef and even inside their own bodies. What public school budget allows this?!? At Pickerington Local School District, virtual reality has become our window to the world.

How would you feel if you had to write a rich description of Parramatta Park? If you are like me, you’ve never heard of it! However, if you were asked to write about a local park you visit, it would be easy. You could provide a rich, detailed description of your favorite local park. It is the same for our students. We ask students to write descriptive essays and to understand things they have never seen. I cannot take you to Parramatta Park, but I can give you the experience of being there through virtual reality. We do the same for our students. Provide them with rich experiences outside of their neighborhood.

Each one of our elementary buildings is equipped with a VR kit that contains iPod Touches, ViewMaster VR Googles, an iPad and a 10-port charger for 14 students. Students use VR to be immersed and learn about the digestive system, immigration by exploring Ellis Island, biomes/habitats, and much more!

The squeals of delight as students put the VR headsets on is heartwarming. As the scenes change, students are engaged in every slide! Students brag about walking on the moon and even reach for the flag as they walk around. Students are even able to see a heart-pumping in rhythm with their own! How else could we ever provide these experiences?

Angie Raquepaw is Instructional Technology Coordinator at Pickerington Local School District.

Click here for more info and to apply to attend a Tech & Learning Leadership Summit.

Today at the annual Texas Computer Education Association Conference (TCEA 2020), zSpace Inc., zSpace announced a 100% sales increase in Texas of its augmented and virtual reality learning platform.

One of the company’s largest customers in Texas, Longview ISD, is in the process of deploying zSpace learning solutions to about 6,000 of the district’s students in seven of its schools. 

zSpace provides more than 2,000 school districts, technical centers, medical schools, colleges and universities worldwide with access to STEM content supporting core academic and Career and Technical Education (CTE) curricula. 

zSpace facilitator Ali Worsham, an Instructional Technology Specialist at Longview Independent School District in Longview, Texas, was nominated as the 2019-2020 TCEA Instructional Technology Specialist of the Year for her work in technology planning and curriculum integration through the use of AR/VR. This award honors those who work in technology planning and curriculum integration and recognizes the significant contribution these educators made toward successful technology use in schools.

“I see zSpace inspiring curiosity because it’s innovative and different. Students are engaged with the product in ways that help them master content through new and creative learning,” said Ms. Worsham. “zSpace allows my students to gain a deeper understanding of complex subjects because they can really pick apart all the layers. They can see how different things work. They can manipulate objects and really get in there and look at things in a different way.” 

For Texas educators who want to learn more about teaching through AR/VR, zSpace AR/VR in Texas includes posts, events, professional development opportunities, and video case studies from Texas schools and Districts of Distinction.

zSpace will be at TCEA in Austin, February 4-6, 2020, demonstrating its AR/VR education solutions in booth 2043. Join zSpace and Everman Independent School District to learn more about enhancing STEM and CTE programs with AR/VR on Friday, February 7 from 12:15 p.m.-1:05 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center, Level 4, Room 18A.

Tech’s Gone Country, AR/VR in Rural Ed

One rural district opened the world to their students using augmented and virtual reality elements to enrich core subjects and prepare them for the future. 

Who: Tina Bobrowski, Library Media Specialist 

Where: Owsley County High School in Southeastern Kentucky 

What: Using AR/VR to enhance rural education

Our students live in an isolated area in southeastern Kentucky. Without access to experiences that would be readily available in larger cities, such as museums and job shadowing experiences, and with a steep socio-economic gap with learners from other regions, we quickly realized that augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) can bridge this gap by providing our students access to virtual experiences and resources in the fields of medicine, arts and humanities, and mathematics. Students learn immersed virtual worlds more quickly and with greater mastery. 

[AV Goes Accessible]

A big thing about our community is its natural beauty. Being located in the Appalachian mountains gives our students the opportunity to be surrounded by natural beauty including the Kentucky river, the Red River Gorge area, and the nearby Daniel Boone National Forest. Our student senate began an initiative with support from a community challenge grant awarded by the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC) to capture the beauty of our region and tell our story as citizens of Owsley County and southeastern Kentucky. We purchased a drone to fly in the woodland areas and capture images and video of the natural wonder that is southeastern Kentucky.

Positive Results

In a high school setting, where students are often hesitant to raise their hands, come to the board, or demonstrate their learning, we have witnessed our students jumping at the chance to put on the headset and explore, show their friends what they have found, and share their experience with others. Students make connections and use them to cement concepts gained from their texts and lessons. With the implementation of drone technology in our classes, students are beginning to see new fields of employment, including unmanned aerial photography and videography. 

Not only is it in their digital world, where they feel comfortable as digital natives, but it also provided them with more immersive learning, where students felt free to take risks and explore. In particular, they immediately bought into the idea of flying a drone for class. Journalism students were eager to “spread their wings,” learn to fly, get coverage of locations and scout ideas for other flights quickly. ELA students took a virtual reality tour of Ancient Greece, focused on Greek sculpture, then utilizing Z spaces actually created their own “virtual sculpture of a peer” in a similar style.

Biggest Challenge

Our biggest obstacle is capacity. With only one virtual reality headset currently and six augmented reality systems, students must work in small groups. We overcame our challenges by embracing modular learning, where students receive information at one station, work on Z Spaces in another station, and complete other portions of their lesson in the classroom.

Finding Funding

Grant funding has supported this initiative. In addition to federal Title I funding where available to support student learning. 

Unfortunately, in our small socio-economically distressed area, traditional jobs are not available. Our new Gigabit Community with high speed internet can provide new viable options for graduates who may choose to stay and work from their homes in tech fields. Having tech skills is imperative as our community's TeleWorks USA Hub has provided work in our area from Apple, DELL, UHaul, Amazon, Concentrix and is now the largest employer in our county.

Pro Tips

Target specific units of study when implementing software. Utilize available space and stage the learning environment. In addition, make sure students can not only utilize the technology, but observe others utilizing the technology, see what they are doing, and share their experiences. When looking into drone technology, educators should take a close look at larger companies and understand the standards for sensors, and how drones can be used in the classroom. Companies such as DJI cater specifically to the educational realm. 

Finally, make all decisions on what is best for students and what can remove barriers to student learning. Carefully review software to include students with special physical considerations, including assisted visuals, captioned audio, seated only interactions, and controller sensitivity adjustment for learners who may need assistance with their fine motor skills. We have found all students, including “differently-abled” students with special needs, find virtual learning to be more accessible than traditional learning resources.

Tech Tools

• Z Space Augmented Reality System
• Primary and Secondary AR glasses/Stylus/Tables to support at least three chairs per Z Space
• Custom Built PC w/additional large monitor for other students to observe
• HTC VIVE Virtual Reality System with Audio Upgrade (over-the-ear headphones)
• Viveport software subscription service
• DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone

Watch as we are “Traveling Beyond Appalachia in a Virtual Learning Lab”: https://portfolios.digitalpromise.org/ip/Portfolio_Intro?Id=a2z1G000000X5afQAC 

 A high school journalism class uses drone footage in their monthly digital newsletters: https://owsley.kyschools.us/District/1622-Untitled.html

Today at the Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), zSpace Inc., Silicon Valley-based edtech provider, and MEL Science, London-based VR and hands-on learning science education specialists, announced a partnership to bring MEL Science’s curriculum-based chemistry courses to zSpace’s augmented and virtual (AR/VR) education platform.

This partnership delivers the MEL Chemistry application and lesson plans to millions of students around the world, expanding content available to zSpace users. As of today, 10 activities for middle school and 39 for high school are available through MEL Chemistry, including lessons and makerspace labs that provide open-ended creation opportunities and hands-on learning activities.

With MEL Chemistry on zSpace, students use AR and VR to experience being inside pure substances, mixtures, and even atoms. MEL Chemistry provides  visualization and explanation of chemistry concepts - from atoms to molecules, including the periodic table, gas laws, and isomerism. 

zSpace will be at FETC in Miami, January 15 - 17, 2020, demonstrating MEL Chemistry in booth 1002.

Technology in education, like most other areas of education, has fads, buzzwords, and trends that come and go often. There have been many predictions in the past regarding the future of technology in schools. This list contains a variety of trends that did not meet expectations, but also did not completely flop. The primary focus is on K-12 education, but there will be a few exceptions that apply to education at all levels and in general.

1. Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR)
   It still seems that the price tag still remains a major barrier of entry for Virtual Reality. Once this barrier is breached, then the issue becomes finding sufficient appropriate learning materials that use the virtual reality components in an efficient and effective educational manner. Augmented reality has become more widespread due to lower barriers of entry, but many implementations of AR could be seen as a simple short-term use gimmick. On top of the barriers of entry, there are also reported issues of headaches and motion sickness which make the selection of VR/AR less desirable to some. While there surely are many people that successfully use both AR and VR in their classrooms, it will likely take further improvements in the technology, more development of appropriate educational programs that can be used on a VR/AR platform, and a lower price point to make this trend reach its full potential.
   
2. Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD)
   The idea of having students bring their own devices to school is a very polarizing issue.  Some think it is a great idea to have students connect their education to their personal devices since they spend a lot of time on them anyway.  Others would say that it is a terrible idea, since the school may not be able to adequately monitor exactly what the students are doing on their devices since they are not school-issued and maintained.  Part of the reason why this may have not caught on to a higher degree could be because of the issue of what to do with students that do not own their own device, or whose parents do not permit them to take their devices to school.  This adds another layer of required management.  Some schools may collect old devices and enable them to be used by students without their own devices, or schools may purchase several loaner devices, but doing so undermines the concept of BYOD to a certain degree.  This is a trend/prediction that could go either way.  Schools could make a push to gather and repurpose used devices for students that do not have the ability to bring their own device.  On the other hand, schools could all together ban the use of personal devices (specifically as it relates to the educational experience) and only allow for school-owned devices to be used in schools.
   
3. Interactive Whiteboards
   This is a trend that I feel has already hit its peak and will begin to fade.  For many students in a 1:1 device environment, the need to have a central presentation location seems to be diminishing.  The expense of purchasing and maintaining the equipment can be high, compared to programs that can allow one computer to share a screen with a class of students on their own devices.  The fate of this trend seems largely tied to a variety of other trends in education that place priority on individualized learning over large group lecture-style learning.
   
4. Computer Labs
   While still somewhere in the middle, this seems to be a trend that is on its way down.  1:1 devices, inexpensive laptops, tablets, BYOD, and other related tech trends all seem to point towards the end of single-purpose computer labs.  While there is certainly still a need for students to learn computer skills, a dedicated lab of computer seems like it will soon no longer be the place.  Students may be able to get a better learning experience in any learning space with their own device and a teacher guiding them through productivity apps, computer science, and/or basic functions of a computer.  There will certainly be exceptions to this.  Rather than eliminating the space altogether, these spaces seem to be prime for morphing into STEM labs and maker spaces.  
   
5. Wearables
   I have predicted it in the past as an upcoming tech trend in education.  But its not quite there yet.  This can include a huge variety of tech-enhanced items including smartwatches, enhanced virtual glasses, and assistive technology for individuals with disabilities.  There still remains relatively high price points for these devices, and many are small and have the potential to be easily lost or damaged by students.  These issues seem to be preventing wearables from becoming a bigger trend in educational technology than they have been so far.  I still feel that this category has great potential to become a major tech trend in education in the future.

Dr. Lahullier is the Coordinator of Technology Services for the Rochelle Park (NJ) School District.

CoSpaces Edu

VR design tool sparks creativity for those with the coding chops

Pros: Provides a fully engaging and immersive way to create virtual, 3D worlds.

Cons: Since there's not much support, users will need a strong background in coding to take full advantage of the site.

Bottom Line: This is a well-designed VR playground for experienced coders.

Read more 

App of the Day picks are selected from the top edtech tools reviewed by Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. 

By Common Sense Education

From our friends at techradar:
5G is the fifth generation of mobile internet connectivity, and is just beginning to roll out around the world. It promises speeds up to 20 times faster than 4G connections, more bandwidth and more stable connections. 

This has tremendous potential to transform the way we communicate, with live high-definition video streaming and much faster download speeds, but it also has uses far beyond what we currently do with our phones and tablets – including reaching into the classroom.

Why this matters:  
Classroom technologies such as virtual/augmented reality and remote education are opening up new avenues to learning and engagement for K12 students. These technologies demand transmission of large amounts of data—which 5G can provide. To explore the benefits of 5G mobile internet connectivity in the classroom, visit techradar.com

VIVE Studios, HTC VIVE’s content development and publishing division, and VIVE Arts, today announced  the availability of its newest interactive education title, T.rex: Skeleton Crew, on Viveport and Viveport Infinity. Created in collaboration with the American Museum of National History for its major exhibition, T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, VIVE Studios’ latest production allows users to interact with the popular exhibit experience in their own homes. 

Developed by Immersion, this interactive VR experience invites users to reconstruct a T. rex as they learn about one of the world’s greatest predators. Once fully reconstructed, users are transported to pre-historic Montana where the T. rex once roamed, and users can witness T. rex come to life before their very eyes. 

Additional features of VIVE Studios’ newest title include:

• An interactive and humorous guided tour from the museum exhibition’s curator, Dr. Mark Norell
• New educational content about the T.rex, including historic facts, archival videos and animations

T. Rex: Skeleton Crew is now available to download world-wide, in both English and Chinese languages for the HTC VIVE on Viveport Infinity, Viveport’s unlimited VR subscription service, and for $4.99 on the Viveport store. 

HoloLAB Champions

Immerse students in a fantastic VR chemistry lab

Pros: Superb quality, realistic lab equipment, nicely scaffolded activities, free for education.

Cons: No free explore or custom activities; currently available only with an HTC Vive.

Bottom Line: Students can safely experiment, play, fail, succeed, and learn in this engrossing virtual chemistry lab.

Read more 

App of the Day picks are selected from the top edtech tools reviewed by Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. 

By Common Sense Education

When using virtual reality in my classroom I found it difficult to engage the entire class when only one student was engaged in a VR experience. One thing that’s easy to do is to cast or stream what the user sees in their VR goggles, but it just does not do VR justice. What’s more engaging is to stream both a participant in the experience and the VR as seen here. 

I can do this through my NewTek TriCaster Mini HD-4i | All in One Compact Multimedia Production Studio with Integrated Screen Tricaster Mini product but that’s an expensive device with very expensive software. I wanted to be able to do it a little bit easier using my MacBook the problem I had is that I needed to be able to stream live two different sources of video one for the green screen which would be what the user sees in the VR experience in a camera on the participant while they’re using the VR experience.

A lot of people got very excited about this when they saw it on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as seen here, where he and actress Brie Larson, play Beat Saber and you could see her playing it live. This is exactly what I wanted to do and I had done at with my Tricaster with the Anne Frank experience with one of my students as seen here. But again how do we do this efficiently at a lower cost? Through some research, I found that a lot of online gamers stream to Twitch using a free product called OBS. OBS Studio is a comprehensive open-source package for video recording and live streaming the program supports multiple sources including media files, games, web pages, application Windows, webcam for desktop, and microphone, and more. This is just what I needed so this video here explains how to use OBS to stream the participant and the participants’s experience, in this case, using virtual reality. 

What you need:

• MacBook
• OBS Studio (Download OBS Studio for Mac) this link is for an older version of OBS that I have had more luck with
• Webcam or FaceTime Camera
• iPad plugged into your Mac as a Camera Source
• VR Headset (I use my Oculus Go for this one)

The Setup:

1. Download OBS Studio
2. Click + to create a Scene “Green Screen VR”
3. Click + to add Sources
4. Select Video Capture Device
5. Create new “Webcam”
6. Next to Device select the dropdown to find your webcam, click Ok
7. Plug your iPad into a USB port of your MacBook (this will allow you to use it as a camera as seen here)
8. Again Click + to add Sources
9. Select Video Capture Device
10. Create new “iPad”
11. Next to Device select the dropdown to find your iPad, click Ok

You should now see two sources on your Preview Screen, one with a red outline the other with a blue outline.

For the Green Screen

• Right-click on the WEBCAM video source and select ‘Filter’.
• Click the ‘+’ under the ‘Effects Filters’ section, then select ‘Chroma Key’.
• With your Green Screen Set up, adjust the “Similarity” until you get a clear image.

Simply stream this using a projector or TV and it will allow viewers to get a better view allowing for increased dialogue and a shared experience.

Here’s a quick clip to show you how it looks.

cross posted at micahshippee.com

Micah Shippee, PhD is an out-of-the-box-doer, a social studies teacher, and a technology trainer. He works to bridge the gap between research and practice in the educational sector. Micah explores ways to improve motivation in the classroom and seeks to leverage emergent technology to achieve educational goals. As an innovative "ideas" person, Micah likes to think, and act, outside the box. Micah is motivated and energetic, taking a creative approach towards achieving goals. As an Educational Consultant, and Keynote Speaker, he focuses on the adoption of emergent technology through the development of an innovative learning culture. Micah believe that innovativeness is the pedagogy of the future.

Tour Creator

Simple Google tool puts kids at the helm of creating VR experiences

Pros: Useful features to add narration, ambient audio, and 360-degree photos.

Cons: No built-in audio recording capability or initial tutorial.

Bottom Line: Allows teachers and students to create compelling tours for viewing in VR or on a web browser.

Read more.

Site of the Week picks are selected from the top edtech tools reviewed by Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best edtech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. 

By Common Sense Education

Virtual reality (VR) may be commonly used for gaming and watching videos, but there are actually plenty of ways in which it can used to educate.

In fact, many suggest that VR could absolutely transform education altogether, largely by making education much more immersive for students – which could help make lessons more interesting.

You don’t actually have to wait around for VR to change education, though: there are plenty of education-focused VR apps that are already available.

Whether you’re a teacher, a student, or simply interested in learning more about the world, here are the best VR apps for education.

Titans of Space

Interested in learning about the vast expanse of space? Titans of space offers an in-depth tour of a number of the planets, stars and other objects in the galaxy. Plus, it does so with beautiful visuals and a well-designed overall experience. Safe to say, this app definitely makes learning about space a little more exciting than it otherwise would be.

To help show the sheer scale of objects in space, Titans of Space does things like shrink down planets to a millionth of their actual size. For example, the Earth could appear to be the size of a house. In the app, you’ll find a variety of options, including the ability to customize the tour of space for you or your students. The app is available on a variety of platforms, including the Oculus Go and the Samsung Gear VR.

Visit TechRadar for the complete list of the best VR apps for education.

CDI Technologies announces that it partnered with ClassVR to offer classroom-ready AR/VR kits that include a complete toolset for teachers to incorporate AR/VR into their classrooms. ClassVR’s virtual and augmented reality system is designed for the classroom and provides students with engaging, immersive experiences. Students can go on virtual field trips with the 360-degree video experiences or they can get up close and personal with content such as a beating heart by looking at a ClassVR worksheet while wearing the headset.

ClassVR kits include:

• Standalone VR/AR headsets that eliminate the need for additional mobile devices or Bluetooth controllers. The headsets also feature an intuitive hand and head-based gesture control system to help students navigate and select activities.
• Curriculum-aligned VR, AR and MR (mixed reality) resources and lesson plans designed to immerse and engage students. Users can also upload and share their own content.
• A web-based portal that allows teachers to control and manage the headsets, plan lessons, and monitor student progress. Teachers can set “points of interest” on students’ headsets to direct them to certain parts of the lesson and can view thumbnail images of what each student is seeing.
• Online tutorials and training videos for teachers.
• A ruggedized portable storage case and 100 GB of cloud storage.

The kits come in sets of four or eight headsets. For more information, visit https://cditechnologies.com/inspire/vr-kits/

Lifeliqe

Impressive, interactive 3D models augment classroom learning  

Pros: Beautiful models, ease of use, and an extensive library of lesson plans and curricula make this app extremely versatile.

Cons: Making your own ebooks is not intuitive, plus the pricing likely will keep it out of students' hands at home.

Bottom Line: While some models are lower resolution and less appealing, Lifeliqe is still a no-brainer for supplying mostly clear, professional 3D models for deep investigation.

Read more here.

App of the Day picks are selected from the top edtech tools reviewed by Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. 

By Common Sense Education

One of the advantages we hear about virtual reality is the ability to visit locations and see artifacts that we can’t visit in person. With the recent devastation of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, it seems an apropos time to review what options exist for virtual field trips and other instructional uses of virtual visits. 

Even with the flashing lights of the fire apparatus showing in the video, we can visit the remains of the Cathedral of Notre Dame via this Digg video. A second version was posted by the BBC. Several extant virtual tours of the Cathedral prior to the fire are still posted including the 360 Cities Virtual Tour, the France 24’s  France in Focus (this includes a short historical introduction before the tour; it mentions that the spire lost in the recent fire actually dated from 1844.), and the WorldSiteGuide, maybe the most comprehensive of the virtual tours. The WorldSiteGuide’s tour of Neuschwanstein Castle is another great virtual tour.

The Smithsonian Magazine explained the process of developing a VR version of the Cache Caves in California, sacred to at least one Native American tribe, the Tejon. A short video of interactive artifacts from the caves is available here. The prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux can be visited virtually as well as the Sculptor’s Cave in northern Scotland complete with stone carvings from around 400 A.D. Having students take a virtual walk through the cave paintings seems much more engaging than seeing a couple of images in the text. Far more recent, the USS Constitution in Boston Harbor, the world’s oldest warship still in service, can be visited virtually as well. Many more sites can be found on Sites in 3D including the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid. They can be viewed via a browser or an App for Android or iO/S. 

For teachers looking for support, TeachHub includes instructions on how to create lesson plans for virtual field trips. Internet4Classrooms includes a curated list of virtual field trip opportunities your teachers can utilize. 

Both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are emergent technologies primed to make a real impact on learning and training. The excitement around them is great for quickly engaging an audience on a topic or theme, but the challenge for fields focused on learning and training is to leverage these technologies to achieve meaningful objectives.

I have been making a deliberate effort to increase exposure to these tools in my own middle school classroom. Most recently, my social studies classes were researching various battles in World War 2. We began with my students completed a pretty standard short research project criteria: Dates, Countries Involved, Significance of the event, etc…

After a day of research, I shared what we can do with their research in CoSpaces EDU. Through CoSpaces EDU, users can include 3D models from Google Poly and code them with the CoBlocks (a block coding program). I asked my students to try to image the battle they studies in VR. After building with their Chromebooks, I was pleased to see diverse interpretations of my direction. 

Finally, students who were ready to preview their work, shared it to my teacher account to view in the Oculus Go app. 

I am looking forward to seeing what we can create and use with these awesome tools next! 

cross posted at micahshippee.com

Micah Shippee, PhD is an out-of-the-box-doer, a social studies teacher, and a technology trainer. He works to bridge the gap between research and practice   in the educational sector. Micah explores ways to improve motivation in the classroom and seeks to leverage emergent technology to achieve educational goals. As an innovative "ideas" person, Micah likes to think,   and act, outside the box. Micah is motivated and energetic, taking a creative approach towards achieving goals. As an Educational Consultant, and Keynote Speaker, he focuses on the adoption of emergent technology through   the development of an innovative learning culture. Micah believe that innovativeness is the pedagogy of the future.

Ask students how they might recreate the surface of a distant planet in preparation for a new community and you might get a few blank stares or wildly entertaining suggestions. Present them with a sandpit where they dig and a lake appears, flatten a forest with the sweep of a hand for a wide expanse of crop land, form high peaks that will collect a snowpack to see an otherwise drought-ridden populace through a sun baked spring and summer — and you’ll have a lot more discussion than just how. The “why” and perhaps even “should we” can really make a lesson take flight.

Recently, Tellart’s Terraform table invited visitors to London’s V&A Museum to “play God” in just this way, thanks to projection mapping able to read the height of the sand to respond to changes. Educational experiences like this are entering the classroom; engaging students’s hands, critical minds and imaginations.

Building an immersive experience through the use of virtual reality and projection doesn’t have to be complicated, or expensive. Students can dip a toe into VR, and the Nile, during Virtual Field Trips to ancient ruins, top rated museum exhibits and cultures from around the world. One school budget-friendly option is the Google Cardboard. These $15-or-less foldable cardboard masks turn your average omnipresent smart phone into the halls of the Vatican, sands of Egypt or Serengeti safari. HMH Field Trips (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) are engaging 3D, 360° excursions powered by Google Expeditions which allow teachers to guide students in a truly immersive experience without ever leaving the classroom.

For many teachers, this is less about using tech such as VR headsets as a mainstay of classroom learning — in fact, some student might find the visuals disorienting so use should be kept to short periods. But as an engaging jumpstart to a new chapter in Social Studies, or an immersive step into the stars in Science, these kind of thrills can coexist happily with the content-driven lectures, lessons and traditional projects used for teaching. 

Interactivity in projection use has opened the classroom to a host of new options for group work. Bringing hand-drawn characters to life as live animated recreations of historical moments, little fingers following the flight of the Monarch on their annual migration, even theorizing Civil War battle paths and strategy with opposing armies doing the same keeps students of all ages tuned into the lessons. 

Each year, the tech improves and advances, bringing more opportunities to enhance our K-12 classrooms. At the University level, entire rooms of students join a single VR headset user through a combination of a 4K projector with two alternating visual fields for the illusion of depth, an 115sq ft ActiveWall space and an Advanced Realtime Tracking system. Observing and even participating in VR surgeries and heart transplants with nary a drop of patient blood sacrificed— these sort of real life incredible opportunities will soon be within reach, inspiring even the youngest little mind to dream big.

Microsoft

Hololens

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/hololens

While slides of the Coliseum might be one way to teach about Ancient Rome, one couldn’t help but imagine the lesson might “stick” more should a gladiator in full garb be strolling through the classroom. The march of the penguins might take on that much more import if a feathery friend was making its way through the aisles of desks. Sure, holograms might have more practical use in industry or science labs at the moment, but keep an eye on developments (and a drop in price) that could lead this mixed reality engager into a classroom near you.

Casio Ultra Short Throw Projector

XJ-UT351WN

http://www.casioprojector.com/products/Ultra_Short_Throw/XJ-UT351WN

Dynamic brightness control on this ultra short throw automatically adjusts to the classroom light level — which combined with its lightweight and ease of set up made it a perfect complement to Hunters Hill Forest School’s outdoor classroom. Using a wildlife projection to enhance a “bat detection kit” lesson in the elementary school’s wooden gazebo, teacher and students were impressed by the brightness of the images leading to a distinct virtual reality experience.

Xennial Digital

XDVR Learning Portal

https://www.xennialdigital.com

The Learning Portal offers a number of different VR science experiences spread across physics, chemistry, and biology. A virtual lab allows students to try their hand at extreme experiments, while lasers and refraction is explored in another experience. Created to offer users the freedom to experiment “without worries of cost or consequence” could engage students to try their hand in a new area of science. 

zSpace 

AR/VR Laptop 

https://zspace.com

This T&L Grand Prize winner allows students to try their hands at virtual frog dissections and Newton’s physics experiments, minus hazards (and moral objections). The set includes tracking eyewear, an interactive stylus, and a wide variety of K–12 STEM software that aligns to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and individual state standards. Unlike other VR solutions, such as head-mounted displays that can be isolating, zSpace is display-based.  

There are times in a school year when we are able to try things out with students with less risk (meaning failure is ok). For me, one of those times is often found at the end of the school year and final exams are finished for the content goals and objectives are complete, it’s at these times I like to try out something new.

Recently, I asked my students to bring whatever devices they had access to from their homes to school if their parents would allow it. Being 7th graders I wasn’t too sure how many of the students would be allowed but nearly 70% came back to school with the devices. So we set out to employ BYOD (bring your own devices) with augmented reality.

I started by asking the students to download several apps including Merge Cubes’ Galactic Explorer and Google Expeditions. I realized employing students own devices in an activity of this nature would bring to the surface very quickly any problems one might have with multiple (different) types of devices and operating systems. My student phones ranged from iPhone 5, 6, 6s, 7, 8 and 10 to HTC, Samsung, Pixels etc… Admittedly there was a lot of troubleshooting going on in my classroom during this augmented reality and virtual reality experience. I found that with my own Pixel to lead with Google Expeditions I needed to go into airplane mode so that my students with various devices could join. I also realized a key problem: that several students did not have an updated AR Kit (iOS) for AR Core (Android) which would allow them to really engage In the augmented reality experiences being offered.

NOTE: Having class-set of common devices (like an iPad cart) can allow you to quickly troubleshoot and set up for more successful engagement.

Merge Cube’s Galactic Explorer

Galactic Explorer by Merge VR allows students to very quickly experience augmented reality in very impressive ways. This is a target based form of augmented reality meaning the Merge Cube needs to be in the sight of the phone’s camera in order to initiate the augmented reality experience. Galactic Explorer is an experience that shows students the solar system. Students can rotate the cubes and rotate their phones to see different celestial bodies from different perspectives and view an information pop-up about the planet they were viewing. I recorded a little bit of the experience my classroom and when I re-watched it I was excited to hear my students say “Oh, wow!” as they saw the different celestial bodies pop-out of the Merge Cube for the very first time. All I could think about was how cool it would be to have student created oral reports in a science class based on the solar system since students in Merge Cube are also able to record their experience so they could have a video of themselves talking about a planet while they hold it in their hand.

Google Expeditions

Google Expeditions has traditionally been a virtual reality platform that allows teachers to lead students on 360-experiences with content from all over the world. Most recently Google has released an update with Expedition’s that allows for augmented reality views of new content. In this AR experience, teachers can use targets around their classroom to lead students in the exploration of 3D, computer-generated models. All while leveraging one of the most powerful aspects of Google Expeditions… the shared experience. A whole class can have a conversation about what they’re all seeing together.

In my most recent use of Google Expeditions AR experiences, I brought my students outside and connected all of our devices together through a wireless router.* Outside, my students examined Leonardo da Vinci’s machines. I was struck by how the context of our learning really contributed to what they were seeing, meaning that my students were able to see natural resources everywhere trees, dirt, sand, grass, etc… and then look at da Vinci’s three-dimensional computer-generated models that were created Buy DaVinci using this very same natural resources. What struck me is that students were given an in-the-moment experience that was related to their immediate surroundings and allowed for them to retain a sense of mindfulness and awareness of the environment in which the great Renaissance Inventor, Leonardo da Vinci, was able to invent over 500 years ago.

Helping students to understand the power of technology, that many have access to, is a step towards preparing students for their future. While not every student has access yet, we can be assured that costs will come down and power will go up… see Moore’s Law. I believe an ancillary, teachable moment, in classroom experience I have described here, is perseverance… Yes, it needs to be taught. Yes it’s ok if students see us fail and troubleshoot. They need to know adults do have to figure stuff out and sometimes we are not as put together as we may appear.

*NOTE: I’m using a wireless router to connect to devices not through the internet but through a Wi-Fi connection. We often use the word Wi-Fi as a synonym for internet when actually Wi-Fi is a communication tool similar to Bluetooth that allows devices to communicate with each other. So using an old router and a phone charger with a brick I’m able to have our Devices connected by Wi-Fi. 

cross posted at micahshippee.com

Micah Shippee, PhD is an out-of-the-box-doer, a social studies teacher, and a technology trainer. He works to bridge the gap between research and practice in the educational sector. Micah explores ways to improve motivation in the classroom and seeks to leverage emergent technology to achieve educational goals. As an innovative "ideas" person, Micah likes to think, and act, outside the box. Micah is motivated and energetic, taking a creative approach towards achieving goals. As an Educational Consultant, and Keynote Speaker, he focuses on the adoption of emergent technology through the development of an innovative learning culture. Micah believe that innovativeness is the pedagogy of the future.

Google Earth VR

Explore the world with an incredible new perspective and sense of scale

Pros: Everything educators love about Google Earth is far more immersive in VR.

Cons: Some may get motion sickness; alternative options for VR field trips may be more practical.

Bottom Line: An amazing experience that brings the world to life, despite the heavy investment in VR required. 

Read more here.

App of the Day picks are selected from the top edtech tools reviewed by Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly.  

By Common Sense Education  

Nearpod today announces the release of new platform features and enhanced curriculum offerings made in partnership with Desmos, Common Sense Education and other partners. With these additions, teachers can now access over 7,000 lessons that complement core content areas and expand the ways that supplemental curriculum, including College & Career Readiness and Digital Citizenship & Literacy, align to state and district initiatives. 

Desmos is an interactive tool with over 100 interactive graphs for multiple categories.

In addition to new math content, the company is adding new virtual reality (VR) Career Tours to its library of VR college tours. 

Nearpod has also added support for additional timed formative assessments and boosted classroom size support for its free offering. Teachers can now use the new timer feature on polls, quizzes and open-ended question activities. With increased classroom size support, silver edition users can now engage up to 40 students in a single session.  

Beginning February 2019, Nearpod’s content offering will include:

• 25 Nearpod math lessons that incorporate Desmos for grades 6-12
• 18 new Common Sense digital citizenship lessons for grades 3-5
• VR Career Tours for 16 career pathways
• 200 Cricket ELA lessons featuring leveled texts for grades K-5
• 18 lessons from Participate on the United Nations Sustainable Development goals for grades 6-12

Nearpod was recently named EdTech Digest’s Company of the Year 2018. The platform integrates with popular learning management systems like Canvas, Schoology, Blackboard, and productivity apps like Google Classroom, Apple Schoolwork, and Adobe. 

To explore the full Winter Release, register to access the live webinar recording. 

MERGE announces a new AR/VR learning platform, Windows 10 support for the MERGE Cube, and an educator Ambassador program at the 2019 Future of Education Technology Expo.

MERGE will preview a new subscription-based active learning software platform designed to give teachers and students a single destination for AR objects and tools, VR experiences, and activity plans aligned to NGSS standards. Students will be able to import and upload models from 3D model libraries such as Microsoft Remix 3D or Google Poly, create their own via Paint 3D, or build and code in Tinkercad or CoSpaces Edu and convert them into AR objects that they can hold and share. A single sign-on feature will allow students to use the platform in the classroom, library, lab or makerspace. The platform will also enable students to scan real-world objects and convert them into virtual objects they can hold on the MERGE Cube.

MERGE will also demo Windows 10 versions of several MERGE Cube apps including Galactic Explorer, Mr. Body, AnatomyAR+, DIG!, Shapes and Object Viewer for Microsoft Surface devices. The latest honors for the MERGE Cube include being named as a finalist in the 2018 Tech & Learning Awards of Excellence to be announced February 4-8 at the 2019 TCEA Convention & Expo.

In addition to new product announcements, MERGE will announce its inaugural class of educator Ambassadors. MERGE is activating a select group of educators to contribute best practices to help accelerate AR/VR adoption and use in the classroom. Participating educators will receive a variety of benefits such as pre-release access to the newest MERGE products, VIP access to MERGE events and channels, and speaking/event support. MERGE is also announcing several new resellers and professional development providers to support school customers.

For more news and information about MERGE, visit www.mergevr.com. Visit MERGE at booth #1931 to learn more about its new products, educator resources and resellers.

Viewpointsystem is showcasing the VPS 19 smart glasses, which combine eye tracking with a display element for a Mixed Reality experience.  VPS 19 is a CES 2019 Innovation Award Honoree in the Wearable Technologies category.

The inclusion of "digital iris" technology is what sets the VPS 19 apart from other wearable technologies. The digital iris is capable of interpreting a person's eye behavior to enable interaction by eye gesture, both consciously and subconsciously. The user can interact with the elements displayed simply using his eyes instead of hands or voice. On the other hand, the system can detect whether an object is unconsciously receiving our attention or whether we are not perceiving something and reacting accordingly.  For example, the VPS 19 provides information about these objects by highlighting them on the display, forcing the user to pay attention to these objects. The content on the display is kept to a minimum in order not to distract the user and to ensure full attention in the respective situation.

The VPS 19 glasses are lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods of time (less than 95g including display unit), just like an ordinary pair of glasses, but are highly durable to provide reliable service in real-life environments and changing light conditions. The system is modular: A robust state-of-the-art eye tracking system can be extended with the additional display unit which is placed in front of the glasses. They can be fully customized with corrective lenses for the wearer. The VPS 19 system features three high-resolution and high-frame-rate HDR micro cameras and an image processing CPU, all integrated discreetly into the glasses. Other features include a wide field of view and hot-swappable, exchangeable batteries which guarantee an unlimited long runtime.

The new VPS 19 with digital iris can provide limitless opportunities for various manufacturing, security, mobility, transportation, retailing and logistics sectors.

The Viewpointsystem VPS 19 will be available in early 2019.  Pricing will be announced at the show.

-- Addressing Gender Equity in STEM, ‘Girls Get STEM: Unleash Your Inner Scientist’ to Encourage the Next Generation of Leaders in STEM --

Silver Spring, Md. (Monday, October 15, 2018) – Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced Girls Get STEM: Unleash Your Inner Scientist – a national initiative to spark girls’ interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). The program will provide educators, Girl Scout troop leaders, and families with standards-aligned curriculum aimed at addressing gender equity in STEM education through a series of girl-led, girl-tested and girl-approved resources for students in grades 2-5.

The initiative launches with the Unleash Your Citizen Scientist Virtual Field Trip, premiering on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT, and will transport students and their teachers from the walls of their schools to a STEM-focused adventure camp alongside the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas at their STEM Center of Excellence. The girl-led adventure will inspire the use of scientific method by all students to help build a better world. Educators, parents and students are welcomed to register for the virtual event here. Viewers are encouraged to join @DiscoveryEd, @GirlScouts, and other experts for a LIVE Twitter chat during the premiere by submitting questions and sending pictures using #CitizenScientistVFT.

“We are excited to collaborate with Discovery Education to inspire young students to dream big as they explore all of the amazing opportunities available to them in STEM fields,” said GSUSA CEO and former rocket scientist Sylvia Acevedo. “We know how important it is to introduce girls to STEM at a young age so that they can see themselves as the scientists, engineers, astronauts, designers, programmers, coders, and creators of the future—and so they know that the possibilities are truly endless.”

Recent findings from the Girl Scout Research Institute’s Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math show 92 percent of girls interested in STEM fields believe they are smart enough to have a career in STEM. However, women continue to be underrepresented in these fields. Girls Get STEM: Unleash Your Inner Scientist aims to change this trend by cultivating girls’ early interest in STEM and associated careers.

“We are proud to join Girl Scouts of the USA in their important work to open STEM pathways for girls by increasing their exposure to STEM’s role in making the world a better place,” said Lori McFarling, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Discovery Education. “Girls Get STEM: Unleash Your Inner Scientist is designed to build girls’ confidence in their problem-solving abilities, and together, we will inspire a new generation of women leaders to pursue careers in STEM.”

Leveraging no-cost, digitally immersive, standards-aligned curriculum – including educator resources and virtual experiences – Girls Get STEM: Unleash Your Inner Scientist will spark girls’ interest in STEM and prepare them for the future. Girl Scouts has been the preeminent leadership development organization for girls for over a century, offering opportunities to explore fields like STEM and entrepreneurship in which women are traditionally underrepresented, in a safe all-girl space where they can build confidence and take healthy risks.

“‘Girls Get STEM: Unleash Your Inner Scientist’ will encourage all students—including girls—to see themselves as emerging solution-seekers who aspire to make positive change,” said Karie Hutner, Education Technology Coach, Verona School District, Wisconsin. “Discovery Education and Girl Scouts’ collaboration to ensure that a new generation of young scientists are intrigued by real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and math will equip young innovators with the tools needed to advance our world.”

Resources to expand STEM opportunities and create a more equitable future are available at no cost at GirlsLeadSTEM.com, they will also be available through Discovery Education Streaming. Additionally, these resources are available for use in and out of the classroom. For more information about Discovery Education’s digital content and professional development services, visit discoveryeducation.com. Stay connected with Discovery Education through social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest @DiscoveryEd.

To join or volunteer for Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscouts.org.

###

About Girls Scout of USA:

We're 2.6 million strong – 1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L.™, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, where she organized the very first Girl Scout troop. Every year since, we’ve honored Daisy’s vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, and with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscouts.org.

About Discovery Education:

As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.

I spent part of last Monday working with the awesome staff of the Eisenhower Foundation at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum. They hosted 18 teachers from around the state during a week long focus on using primary sources across the curriculum.

Part of our time together was spent talking about non-traditional primary and secondary sources. The teachers were all used to using texts such as diaries, speeches, and photographs. So it was fun sharing about stuff like artifacts and audio clips. But it was even more fun playing with virtual reality tours.

I’ve shared about virtual reality before. And if you’ve been around History Tech much, you already know that I’m convinced about the power of VR tours as part of learning.

There were some interesting conversations around primary vs. secondary sources and what really makes a virtual reality tour a primary source. And, of course, we talked about possible teaching strategies and activities for using VR as part of teaching and learning. The best question that came out of the discussion was:

Is it possible for teachers or students to create our own tours like those in Google Expeditions?

Don’t ya love that? I mean, consuming VR is great. But creating VR? Even better. When kids move past consumption to creation and innovation, good things are happening.

The problem for many teachers and students has been the creation tools available for VR have been clunky, expensive, or unworkable in the classroom. But things are getting better.

A newer tool called Poly / Tour Creator now gives you and your kids the ability to create Google Expedition like tours without a lot of fuss. Plus it’s free. And because it’s also a Google tool, it works great with your inexpensive Google Cardboard VR viewers.

What’s not to like?

You can get an idea of what a Tour Creator tour looks like by checking out these examples:

• Browse through this eight scene tour titled Pioneer Life on the Prairie. Be sure to explore the hot spots embedded throughout the different scenes.
• This is a quick three scene Tour of a lookout in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Is this type of tour hard to create? I made the Flint Hills tour in less than 15 minutes using Google StreetView images. So . . . not so much. You and your kids can knock this out without a lot of trouble. This is the whole idea – having kids move up Bloom’s and across SAMR to the creation / synthesizing stage.

Here’s the cool thing. The created tour works on multiple platforms. If you viewed the two samples listed above on a laptop or Chromebook, you get the basic virtual reality view. You’re able to pan around, up or down, and click on any of the hot spots. But . . . if you view any of these tours using a smart phone, you have the option to enter the 3D version of the tour by clicking the Cardboard icon in the top right hand corner.

You’ll get the two stereoscopic screens. Insert your phone into your Cardboard and . . . boom. Instant 3D VR tour.

To highlight any of the hot spots or images embedded in your tour, simply aim the dot in the center of the screen at the hot spot and click the Cardboard’s trigger.

Explore the Tour Creator Gallery and check out the different tours available. (Be sure to click the ever present Google hamburger / three line menu in the top left corner to browse through different categories.)

Ready to make one of your own?

Go back to the home page and click the blue Sign In button the top right hand corner. Enter your Google account information. Then click the purple Create a Tour button in the middle of your screen. (You will need to do this on a laptop or desktop.)

This takes you to the Tour Creator page. You should see a button to create a New Tour and Templates. Click New Tour.

Give your tour a title. Type in a brief description of your tour. Drop in a cover photo. Select a category. Click Create.

The screen will change slightly with an Add Scene button popping up in the lower left corner. Click that.

[Google Adds New Classroom Features. Use Them Responsibly.]

By default, you’re taken to a Google StreetView map. You also have the option to upload a 360 degree photo – we’ll get to that. For now, type in a place in the search box. You should see the yellow StreetView man on the map. Drag and drop him wherever you want. When the yellow guy is where you want your view to be, click the Add Scene in the bottom right.

I used Gettysburg.

Edit your scene by naming it, editing the location if needed, and adding a brief description. This is what your users will see when they view your tour. Now for the cool part. You can insert hot spots, narration, and background audio.

To insert a hot spot, click Add Point of Interest. Drag and drop the white circle that appears anywhere on your photo. Type in a title and a description for your hot spot. To insert more hot spots, continue to click the Add Point of Interest button. You can also create image hot spots. Click the image icon below the description. Insert your image into the box that appears. Want to add audio narration? Click the speaking icon. Insert your audio file.

How sweet is that?

You can also drag and reorder your Points of Interest. This becomes the order that they appear to your users. Continue adding and editing scenes until your tour is complete. Click the blue Publish button in any scene to finish your scene and make it available for viewing. Choose Public or Unlisted. (Unlisted means your tour will not appear in search engines or the tour gallery. You can still share the tour’s link or embed the tour on your own site.)

After publishing your site, it will appear in your Tour Creator account along with the rest of your tours. Hover over your tour to view or edit your tour. Viewing your tour gives you the ability to Share or get an Embed code.

View the Civil War Battlefield tour we just made:

Easy peasy.

So you should already be thinking about the possibilities here. You can use Tour Creator to generate resources for your students. Flipped classroom materials. Study guides. Hook activities. How about creating a tour that asks your kids to figure out location based on contextual clues? Maybe your scene descriptions provide hints to the location. Have kids “race” to discover the location first.

Maybe all you do is create another piece of data that supplements other primary and secondary sources. We know how powerful 3D VR can be for engaging students with your content.

And the cool thing is that you can use your tours with on all sorts of devices. Google Cardboards with phones would be my choice but the tours are still powerful on laptops, iPads, and Chromebooks.

But I think Tour Creator is perfect for having kids develop their own tours. Rather than you creating a tour of Civi War battlefields, your kids should be doing that. Require story boards for every scene. Ask them to generate citations for their sources. What photos will they use? Why those photos? What hot spots and descriptions will go with each scene? Have them create and collect audio and narration for different scenes.

And . . .once they have their research complete and storyboards worked out, use their Google accounts to create their own Tours. Share them on your web site, highlight them via social media, and score them using an adapted digital storytelling rubric.

Ready to go deeper?

Download a 360 camera app such as FOV. Ask students to use the app to capture their own 360 degree photos. (There are other options out there.) Upload those to Tour Creator instead of using Google StreetViews.

We all love VR tools like Google Expeditions. But using Tour Creator gives you and your students the ability to go beyond simply consuming content to creating it.

cross posted at glennwiebe.org

Glenn Wiebe is an education and technology consultant with 15 years' experience teaching history and social studies. He is a curriculum consultant for ESSDACK, an educational service center in Hutchinson, Kansas, blogs frequently at History Tech and maintains Social Studies Central, a repository of resources targeted at K-12 educators. Visit
glennwiebe.org to learn more about his speaking and presentation on education technology, innovative instruction and social studies.