Google Expeditions Virtual Reality in the Classroom Paul

Google Expeditions Virtual Reality in the Classroom

Paul Zimmerman Technology Innovator Blaine County School District pzimmerman@blaineschools. org @paulkzimm

What is Virtual Reality in education? It’s a tool that removes the obstacle of walls in the classroom and allows students to be anywhere and experience anything. In education this gives the opportunity to experience things first hand make their lessons more tangible. Studying Mars? Let’s visit Mars. Oceans can be seen up close and we can even take students on the Magic School Bus into the human body or inside plant cells.

100% Engaging, amazing, inspiring, educational AND REAL https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=3 MQ 9 y. G_Qf. DA

How far has VR come? Correcting the perceptions

Problems with consumer VR ● ● ● Singular experience - only a one person experience Largely game focused - lack of educational content Cumbersome - large viewers Expensive - Not education budget friendly Not classroom friendly - Not portable

What about premade Google Expeditions kits? Is it the best solution?

Best Buy Education ● ● ● 30 student kit Carrying case Wireless router 30 devices 30 MATTEL viewers $10, 000

Why doesn’t this work? ● ● ● Not durable - Plastic viewers Not easy to store - LARGE and needs a cart Expensive - $10, 000 No ownership by teacher - Just another tech thing Due to cost, only 1 kit per district MATTEL viewers are limited in device choice due to size w/poor lenses

How engaging is Google Expeditions? Google Photos and School Board presentation links in the notes below

Four Emerging Teaching Models ● Innovator led ● Teacher and Innovator Partnership ● Teacher Led ○ Inspiring other teachers ● Student Led

Hardware ● ● ● Dodo. Case Smart. VR - $40 Any wireless router Any phone i. Phone 5 or newer Any Android within 4 years This approach is scalable ○ 5 phones to 30 phones

Some Hardware Advantages ● ● ● Smart. VR is versatile ○ The clip design means any phone will work so long term usage is possible with the same hardware Easy to store and is very portable with folding design Versus cardboard viewers, Smart. VR’s are metal and durable ● ● Using any wireless router keeps costs down Smaller hardware means easy to pack and move from classroom to classroom SCALABLE - Kit can be 5 devices or 30 Use tablets or i. Pads already in place!

Why does do it yourself matter? ● It’s good for the environment ● Phones can be had from parents who have upgraded ○ Teachers have ownership of Expeditions kit ● Wireless router can be found at thrift store ○ Any inexpensive router will work ● Smart. VR is $28 each - but can work with ANY phone, all phones fit ○ Grants? ● Kit of 30 can be made for $1000 versus $10, 000

Google Expeditions App ● ● ● App allows for a controlled VR experience as a group All students see the same thing together Educational prompts in the app Can point out landmarks via the app for the students to find 1000+ unique Expeditions are available Google is piloting Augmented Reality ○ https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-DYqla. MWTVg

BCSD Timeline ● ● ● October 2016 - 11 Viewers May 2017 - 24 Viewers - all through donations and grants January 2018 - 30 viewer in kit #1, 14 in kit #2 Hosted 100+ Expeditions Future planned phone drive

Future uses for VR ● Once VR kit hardware is in place, now projects with You. Tube 360 can be accomplished. ○ Kit becomes more versatile based on teacher ideas ● Mixed and Augmented Reality are coming and will be the next evolutionary step for virtual reality ○ ○ These kits are already capable of running augmented reality and mixed reality. As the technology matures, educators will have the tools already in place ● Google Expeditions Creators Beta ○ https: //blog. google/topics/education/pioneer-new-lessons-your-classroom-googleexpeditions/

Computer Coding in VR ● Computer coding is beginning to blend with VR ○ https: //www. blocksmithxr. com/ ○ This tool allows coding in 3 D space then viewing in virtual reality viewers on existing school equipment ○ Comes with animated curriculum ● Similar to Tinker. CAD

Expeditions List 900+ locations and counting!

Paul Zimmerman pzimmerman@blaineschools. org @paulkzimm