Simple VR in Primary Schools

An introduction to using VR tools in the primary classroom. Workshop run at #ECAWA2017, Saturday 24 June, 2017
Yvonne Harrison, Western Australia

1. Simple VR in the
Primary Classroom
Yvonne Harrison
Singleton Primary School
ECAWA Conference 2017

2. Acknowledgement
•Thanks to Gabe Baker from #EdorbleAcademyfor developing the
3D/VR Technology and Education MOOC.
•Thanks to BronStuckey for your mentorship over the last 10 years
during my exploration of Virtual Spaces and the “lived curriculum”.
•Thanks to the development team and teachers involved in the
CoSpacesEdu Facebook Group for your thoughtful and kind sharing of
ideas.

3. Virtual Reality
•Virtual reality (VR) is a computer technology that uses
headsets, sometimes in combination with physical spaces or
multi-projected environments, to generate realistic images,
sounds and other sensations that simulates a user's physical
presence in a virtual or imaginary environment. A person
using virtual reality equipment is able to "look around" the
artificial world, and with high quality VR move about in it and
interact with virtual features or items. VR headsets are head-
mounted goggles with a screen in front of the eyes. Programs
may include audio and sounds through speakers or
headphones.
•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality

4. Augmented Reality
•Augmented reality (AR) , is a live direct or indirect view of a physical,
real-world environment whose elements are augmented by
computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or
GPS data. Augmented reality enhances one’s current perception of
reality, whereas in contrast, virtual reality replaces the real world with
a simulated one. Augmentation techniques are typically performed in
real-time real time and in semantic context with environmental
elements, such as overlaying supplemental information.
•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality

5. Simulated reality
•Simulated reality is the hypothesis that reality could be
simulated—for example by computer simulation—to a degree
indistinguishable from "true" reality. It could contain conscious
minds which may or may not be fully aware that they are living
inside a simulation. This is quite different from the current,
technologically achievable concept of virtual reality. Virtual
reality is easily distinguished from the experience of actuality;
participants are never in doubt about the nature of what they
experience. Simulated reality, by contrast, would be hard or
impossible to separate from "true" reality. There has been much
debate over this topic, ranging from philosophical discourse to
practical applications in computing.
•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulated_reality

6. Using Virtual Reality with Children
•Five Ethical Considerations -Paul Darvasi
•1. Long-Term Effects and Prolonged Exposure
•2. The Impact of Environment on Agency and Behaviour
•3. Aggravating Pre-existing Psychological or Emotional Issues
•4. (Un)Reality and Diminished Real World Interactions
•5. Privacy and Data Gathering
•https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/08/17/five-ethical-considerations-for-using-virtual-reality-
with-children-and-adolescents/

7. Before using VR in your classroom,
always test it yourself!

8. Put yourself in the place of
the learner and note
your reactions to the content.

9. Think about how it will affect
your students.

10. If you use a virtual space,
get in and live the curriculum
with your students!

11. AR Apps
•Quiver and Quiver EDU
•http://www.quivervision.com/http://www.quivervision.com/coloring-packs/
•Chromville Science
•https://chromville.com/chromvillescience/
•The Tortoise and the Hare
•http://appsplayground.com/2014/07/08/tortoise-and-the-hare-augmented-reality/
•Spacecraft 3D
•https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/spacecraft-3d/id541089908?mt=8
•Anatomy 4D
•http://anatomy4d.daqri.com/

12. Beginning with Field Trips
•Google Expeditions
•Teacher as Guide
•Students use the App
•Information here:
https://support.google.com/edu/expeditions/answer/6335098?
hl=en&ref_topic=6335069
•List of available Expeditions:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1m3y5woWEOwpSGlTJ
GVRBTuE3fMlsoVrL1jJjcakxSQ4/edit#gid=0

13. Google Arts and Culture
•This link will take you to the page of choices which can be
searched: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/

14. Google Street View
•A good source of pictures for geographical studies
•https://www.google.com/streetview/#

15. Online or Virtual Spaces
•3D worlds another source of virtual reality in which students can create
•Minecraft–across devices. Minecraft Education Edition could be available as a
subscription based service through your Microsoft 365 accounts at school if your
jurisdiction runs Windows 10 or latest Mac OS and has included it in the available
Apps.
•Quest Atlantis is a mission based world for kids 9-16 –it is available in slightly
different form through Active Worlds. http://atlantisremixed.org/
•Open Sim–Sim-on-a-stick (SOAS) Facebook Group now active. PC only.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/teachingwithSoaS/
•Edorble -built in Unity 3D and accepts uploads from Sketchup, Sketchfab, Minecraft,
3DS Max, Blender, Maya and Tinkercad. edorble.comCross platform.
•Courses for teachers at Edorble Academy.
https://www.edorbleacademy.com/pages/courses

16. Creating Virtual Projects in Primary
School
•CoSpaces is an online facility for creating Virtual Projects. https://cospaces.io/
•First noticed in January 2017.
•Busy social network Facebook exists between developers and educators.

18. Children need to know that,
just like all other forms of media,
virtual reality is constructed.

19. Why Use CoSpaces?
https://cospaces.io/education.html

20. Project Suggestions
•https://cospaces.io/education.html

21. Project Suggestions
https://cospaces.io/education.html

22. Project Suggestions
https://cospaces.io/education.html

23. Let’s get started!

24. Getting Started
•Go to the CoSpaces website and create an
account.
•https://cospaces.io/create.html
•Teacher account can be used with a class as
many spaces can be opened.
•CoSpaces EDU is currently in development.

25. Workspace

26. You Tube Channel
•Find tutorials about how to get started
and how to work in some of the
aspects of CoSpaces
•https://www.youtube.com/channel/U
C6VsnmaKQ9MNRpJbFsIhoGw

27. Coding in CoSpaces
•https://cospaces.io/coding/blockly.html
•https://cospaces.io/coding/javascript.html
•Still stuck? Join the Facebook Group and
ask away!
•https://www.facebook.com/groups/48057
9362131541/

28. Contact
•[email protected]
•yharrison on Twitter
•http://yvonneh.edublogs.org/
•Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+
[email protected]