Bringing Learning to Life With VR

Virtual reality (VR) is something that I have been wanting to explore more.  I've heard of it, but have never really taken the time to look into what it's all about.  In fact, when I began cleaning the school library that I am currently working in, I came across several VR headsets.  I remember saying to myself "what in the world did they ever purchase this for".  Let me explain myself in this thought process real quick.  First, the set requires a device that we do not have access to at our elementary school.  Second, I really didn't have any experience with VR and didn't know how beneficial to the learning experience it can be.  So, as I read and researched this week I have found that with the right type of device, VR can be very beneficial.  

I am here to share the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.  The Oculus has numerous apps for both educational and recreational purposes. They start at $299 for one with 128GB of storage.  The Oculus also does not require a PC for operation.  

So, how can you use the Oculus in the classroom?  Using the ChalkTalk app with Oculus, students are able to experience the learning process in an entirely new way.  Have you ever wished that you could bring to life a drawing that you put on a whiteboard?  This app will allow you to do that.  Check out this article to learn more about ChalkTalk.  This video is a great introduction in to how ChalkTalk allows you to bring drawn images to life.  

While virtual reality is still a developing topic in the education world, there are many perks of using it.  Some of them include: 

-Making learning an active experience

-Limiting distractions

-Taking student engagement to a whole new level

-Learn complex subjects

For more information on the perks of using VR, check out this article on how to use VR in the classroom.