It Began with Notre Dame
I don’t know about you, but I was shocked when I saw the spire above Notre Dame, engulfed in flames, crumble to the ground.
I was selfishly thankful that I was able to see it before it burned. I also felt a sense of guilt and regret that I had not appreciated the magnificent artisanship that had gone into building that grand structure over 800 years ago. Now it is gone.
This made me think about the opportunity my students have lost. While churning this over in my mind, an idea came to me. I could help students unpack this tragic current event AND still give them the opportunity to visit Notre Dame in all its glory using VR technology.
I am normally a very prepared teacher. But honestly sometimes my best work comes from instant moments of inspiration.
Educate & Elevate Understanding
Believe it or not, this impromptu lesson allowed students to transfer a lot of knowledge learned in library this year. Reliable sources, primary and secondary sources, social emotional learning, world culture, history, strategies for reading online news, nonfiction close reading, and VR technology. It really was a culminating experience, and my kiddos naturally applied their new knowledge to understand and interpret this global event in such an authentic meaningful way!
Let's begin by talking about what VR technolgy is, how it began, and how it can be used to enhance teaching and learning. Afterward, I will share how I used VR technology to elevate my students' connection to current events.
Everyone is talking about VR
What Is It Exactly?
That is a really good question! VR stands for "virtual reality". VR actually began in the 1960s (Gregory, 2019). It was big, clunky, and expensive machinery. It was designed to provide flight simulation practice experiences for pilots and astronauts (Gregory, 2019).
Today, it has become small, light, and easy to use. To use most VR systems users begin by putting on a headset that has a screen attached. The screen connects the viewer to pictures, videos, and even video games such as Mindcraft. However, instead of simply looking at these pictures, videos, or video games, VR puts the viewer inside the visual display. The viewer can move his or her head to look all around giving him or her a 360 degree view. It’s like you are really there!
Imagine the ability to take your students on a virtual field trip anywhere in the world. Or, take your students on a virtual tour of the circulatory system. Why, you would feel just like Ms. Frizzle on Magic School Bus!
VR Products
There are many different VR providers at different pricepoints. Oculus Rift is one of the most popular systems and it is one of the few that work with Mincraft. Nearpod, an interactive learning platform, provides customizable lessons in which VR experiences are ofren embeded within. No headsets are needed with this platform. While not very powerful and awkardly plopped into lessons, I applaud Nearpod for experiementing with this new tech tool and I am hopeful they will improve over time.
Our school is fortunate to have recently acquired a class set of VR headsets through ClassVR.
I would highly recommend buying at least three cases so an entire class can wear the headsets at once. If you are unable to do so, putting students into stations could also work well.
Tips and Tricks
Before students use the VR headsets, make sure they are thoroughly trained on how to handle and care for them.
Let’s face it, students will be super jazzed to try on the VR glasses. Grown ups are too! So make sure you go over and demonstrate the basic usage instructions for the VR headsets before you pass them out or you will have frustration and chaos on your hands. I say that from experience, sigh.
Because the experiences can feel life-like, make sure students are sitting down. The first reaction is to physically walk around because the experience can be really life-like. This can become a safety issue, so keep students in their seats if you have a large group to manage.
Lastly, some kiddos (and adults) report getting headaches or feeling queazy after trying the headsets. Watch students closely. Let students know that if this happens that they should take off the headsets immediately.
The VR Lesson Experience
VR Lesson Activity
After reading a NewsELA article on the fire at Notre Dame, our students discussed how bad the people of France must feel and my students wondered what landmark in the United States would be of similar importance to Notre Dame? One students said that she thought it would be like the United States losing the White House or the Statue of Liberty being destroyed. Ashley said, “I think people will be sad that they can never see Notre Dame again. Some people there have probably never seen it.” Oh Bingo!
So, maybe you were thinking how can VR really elevate teaching and learning? Well, here we go! Ashley’s statement led me to the golden moment. I asked students if any of them had been to Notre Dame. One student had been to France and shared they had seen it. I told students that they were going to be able to say that they saw it too! (See activity 2 on Quick Lesson Run Down page)
Our students have used the VR headsets before, so we did not have to worry about learning about care, set up, and use. Each student placed a VR headset on while I loaded three different views of Notre Dame from the list of VR tours provided by ClassVR (Teachers can create playlists for students). Once the playlist was delivered to students, I opened the different virtual reality pics and videos for students to view. Students then viewed the delivered pics and videos together. The teacher dashboard allowed me to see what each students was viewing. VR allowed my students to be able to see Notre Dame once again in all of its grandeur.
Afterward, a student said, “At least I can now say I saw it!”. Wow, just wow.
Virtual Reality helped my students to bridge time and space, elevating the lesson, and helped them to make deeper connections.
The Verdict
I won’t lie, the VR technology is not quite there, yet. I wish the students could walk through the halls of the cathedral and have interactive experiences within the ClassVR experiences. But, I am excited and hopeful for what is to come.
Paige Green
B.S. Ed Illinois State University
Library Information Specialist Certified, Northern Illinois University
M.S. Ed Instructional Technology, Northern Illinois University
M.S. Ed in Literacy, Judson University
Resources
Gregory, Josh. Virtual Reality and Minecraft. Cherry Lake Publishing, 2019.
Credits:
Created with images by jiawangkun - "Montreal Notre-Dame Basilica" • WolfBlur - "cathedral notre dame of bayeux cultural monument" • adisa - "Notre Dame de Paris" • yohoprashant - "augmented reality vr virtual reality"