Immersive learning is the next big thing in edtech. Virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, all sorts of realities when reality reality just isn't cutting it. At the new hire training this year, we were told there would be no fieldtrips approved this school year. Not enough bus drivers to get students out for fieldtrips and be back in time to pick up kids and take them home. Teaching is challenging profession even in the best of times, but its moments like these when I begin to question my life choices. I'm only one person, after all, and I can't fix a broken system. Yet here we are working to solve system problems with individual solutions. If you find yourself longing to explore your content outside of the classroom, but have limited options, consider immersive learning. Read on for some ideas on how we can make it work.
Immersive learning is not new, but it is becoming more and more accessible. More affordable devices, more ubiquitous Internet and Wi-Fi connectivity, better training for teachers, and the entertainment and recreational use of VR and AR combine to make it only a matter of time before education starts to really take advantage of the technology. Fields like the military, NASA, medicine and health. real estate, architecture and engineering all make use of augmented reality and virtual reality. Schools should be next. With this technology we can expose students to civilizations of the past, underwater ecosystems, terrains in space, and cities around the world. With the right training and tools, educators can enhance learning and increase motivation and engagement. It is important, as with any new technology, to keep our eyes on the real prize: Learning. Shiny, new technology can be enticing, but everything we do must be rooted in educational decisions and best practice.
The following checklist provides educators and instructional designers guidelines to using immersive technologies:
You can download the checklist here:
Want more ideas on how to visit new places while never leaving your class. Watch the video below:
Hologram image by iqonic.design
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