The Educational Potential of Augmented Reality I’m not sure about you, but watching my neighborhood—OK, the entire world—become obsessed with the augmented reality (AR) game Pokémon Go, I knew I had better do some serious research into AR’s implications and applications. Virtual vs. augmented Sportvision Unlike virtual reality, which offers the user a 360-degree view of an artificial world, augmented reality superimposes an image, video or some other digital overlay onto our view of the real world in real time. Magic Leap Since AR enhances the information we can perceive with our senses, like a virtual dinosaur sprouting out of text on the Mesozoic Era, it often immerses users into the experience in a way that makes learning more meaningful. Potential applications of AR According to a survey this past June by Samsung, most educators agree that it is difficult to keep students engaged, and believe AR and VR will increase motivation and understanding of learning concepts. Imagine this: a librarian creates AR for a book display. Arloon
Amazon Pushes Echo Smart Speakers on Campus In Amazon’s latest push into education, the tech giant is encouraging colleges to experiment with its Echo smart speakers and add the devices to their curricula. The company is working with Arizona State University, for instance, where it gave 1,600 Echo Dots to engineering students living in a new dorm called Tooker House. “ASU’s main motivation was to develop an opportunity for its engineering students to gain skills in voice technology, an emerging field,” says John German, an ASU spokesperson. The engineering school at ASU has added "a little bit" of voice technology to the curriculum of three existing courses this semester, German said. However, the students who received the Echo Dots will "not at all" be required to take these courses. The Amazon Alexa team “met frequently” with the university, and “offered advice,” says John Rome, ASU’s deputy chief information officer. The company has been encouraging developers of edtech software to add support for their smart speakers as well.
7 Ways AR/VR Technologies Impact eLearning The gaming industry is already embracing AR/VR technologies to bring players into the action. What does this cutting-edge tech offer online learners in the private and corporate eLearning sectors? Today, eLearning professionals are using it to enhance the realism of eLearning simulations and serious games, but who knows what tomorrow may bring. eBook Release Step Into The Screen: AR/VR Technology's Role In The Future Of eLearning Discover all the benefits of using Augmented and Virtual Reality technologies in eLearning. 1. Today’s eLearning simulations involve a computer or mobile device screen that leaves plenty of space for distractions. 2. Modern training forces corporate learners to choose between face-to-face and online sessions. 3. In this case, online learners are able to literally walk down their own personalized online training path and interact with online training resources. 4. Big Data will only get bigger as tech becomes more advanced. 5. 6. 7. Homebase Make work easier.
Immersive Learning: How AR/VR is the Next of Generation of Learning Extended reality is no longer just for out-of-this-world sci-fi movies. Virtual reality has made major strides in the past 20 years, and with augmented reality and mixed reality being used more often in real-world applications, the technology is becoming more versatile than ever imagined. The future of learning and workplace training is connected to immersive learning technology. As technology becomes more ubiquitous and affordable, several types of immersive tech or extended reality (xR) are becoming accessible to educators and companies. How is xR being used in the world? Augmented reality, or AR, is a type of software used on a smart device, such as a tablet, smart eyeglass or smartphone. Here’s an example of AR used at a hospital in California to help aid a young patient before a medical procedure: Mixed reality, or MR, is a lesser-known term. Here’s an example of mixed reality from Microsoft Visual Studio: Virtual reality, or VR, takes this process a step further. Mariel Cariker
The 10 Best AR Apps for Classrooms Using Apple’s New ARKit The recent popularity of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) has put a spotlight on immersive technology—and our curriculum may never look the same again. In the midst of all this enthusiasm, Apple has released a new resource for app developers—the ARKit—that has supercharged augmented reality for fields like entertainment, gaming, advertising and, of course, education. The ARKit is often mistaken as a single app, but it’s actually a tool for developers to create their own apps. Already, it has opened up the AR floodgates for newer Apple devices, and developers have been showcasing their new apps on social media using the hashtag #ARKit. The latest apps include technology that simulate realistic experiences, making AR more useful than ever in our daily lives. While researching the possibilities, I’ve reached out to companies to see how they plan to make the technology that will one day rock our classrooms. #10 Magicplan (freemium) – Measure with AR
Virtual Field Trips Virtual reality offers real rewards in education | District Administration Magazine In four Utica Community elementary schools in metro Detroit, students as young as 10 manipulate and pull apart the organs of the body, build roller coasters, and design and test 3D prototypes. The students wear 3D glasses on their heads; in their hands, they hold specialized styluses to maneuver digital objects projected in space in front of them. The students can twist, turn and take apart the objects—even a virtual human heart. The roller coaster program, for instance, lets them change the gravitational pull in their virtual world and tweak their designs so the cars and the tracks provide a thrilling, if imaginary, ride. It’s an immersive experience that captures students’ attention and ignites their imaginations. “Industry is already using these tools to design the dashboard of a car, for example,” she adds. Familiarity and comfort with VR “is a marketable skill right out of school,” Cheben adds. Three realities Elementary exploration Three realities (cont.) Middle school makers
4 Ways to Use Augmented and Virtual Reality Apps in the Classroom Are you curious about using augmented or virtual reality in your classroom? If you've already tried it out, are you looking for more app and lesson plan ideas? Either way, we've got you covered. Start with the Google Cardboard headset (it's only $15), and whether you're using iOS, Android, Chromebooks, or iPads, we've curated an assortment of apps and lesson plans to try out with your students. Keep in mind there are ongoing debates around using virtual reality with kids. Skeptics argue that VR experiences can't create genuine empathy, that VR simulations make females sick at higher rates than males, and that ethical considerations -- from psychological implications to privacy concerns -- are urgent issues. That said, many educators use virtual and augmented reality in their classrooms with positive results. 1. Teachers are using virtual reality apps like Expeditions and Discovery VR to teach cultural understanding, global awareness, and historical perspective. 2. 3. 4.
6 questions to ask to build a culturally inclusive classroom It’s almost impossible to ignore that K-12 classrooms in the U.S. are filled with students from increasingly diverse cultural backgrounds: race, nationality, religion, economic, etc. Many teachers, though, still aren’t sure how to move from recognizing the diversity to creating a mutually responsive learning environment. In his presentation “Culturally Responsive Teaching: Key Principles and Practices,” Dr. How to build a culturally inclusive classroom Question 1: What do I know? Related: 3 tenets for developing cultural competency in schools 6 questions to ask to build a culturally inclusive classroom Question 2: What do I notice? Question 3: How do I feel?
The 13 Best Budget VR Headsets for iOS and Android in 2017 - Shopomo [Update 13 December 2016: Now includes a review of the original Samsung Gear VR headset which has come down in price to below £60 recently] An increasing number of people seem to be catching onto the fact that VR apps for Android and iOS smartphones are glorious fun, so we’ve decided to put together a buyer’s guide to 13 best budget VR headsets. Or perhaps a better description of the sector may be ‘enhanced smartphone holders’. Because at these price points, none of the VR headsets reviewed have any of their own onboard sensors, apart from the Samsung Gear VR. Instead all but one rely on the processors, gyroscopes and motion sensors of the smartphones themselves. Don’t go in with expectations held too high, however. And these VR headsets also make great viewers for the growing range of 3D 360° movies that can be found on YouTube. Note: if you are looking for more information on Android-only VR headsets, check out our companion piece Google Daydream vs Google Cardboard.
20 Uses For Virtual Worlds In The Classroom Editor’s Note: This is part two of Using Virtual Worlds to educate. You can find part 1 here. You probably never thought you could attend a virtual lecture, discussion, exam, or lab in 3D. I once had to teach high school students the importance of safety precautions for a welding class. I delved a bit further into the uses of virtual worlds and even created an avatar of my own (PiJustice) to see the current applications of virtual worlds in education. Here is what I found: Virtual worlds are emerging as a meeting place for the most prestigious universities, non-profits, and academic institutions in the world. Their uses are varied and can adapt to different needs. Communications scenarios. But not all virtual worlds are created equal. Students in COM 563:Virtual Environments class created a 3D tour of the iMedia floor at Elon University. The HITLAB (Human Interface Technology Lab) of the University of Washington has explored recent applications of virtual worlds. What is the Current Trend?