Soon, several teachers will begin a self-paced journey learning how they can integrate virtual reality into their classrooms.
Merriam Webster defines Virtual Reality (VR) as an artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli (such as sights and sounds) provided by a computer and in which one’s actions partially determine what happens in the environment. It is a new technology that allows users to explore an immersive experience into different locations, times, and scenarios.
VR is a new, exciting, and popular among kids. Teachers enrolled in this course are hoping to find new ways to excite and engage students with this popular technology. Taking advantage of reasonably priced equipment provides an opportunity to take advantage of access to technology. There is great interest in virtual reality as an educational tool.
Teachers will be challenging themselves with a graduate credit level course that will explore how to actively research, and implement innovative learning in their own classrooms using virtual reality technology. Each of them will design their own learning based on their personalized professional goals. At the end of the course, participants will collaborate in sharing innovative ideas for integrating virtual reality into classroom learning. Most importantly, they will develop emerging strategies for innovative learning which will take all of our learning in FWSU forward.
At the end of the course, teachers will have an Oculus Virtual Reality headset to use with students in the classroom in new and innovative ways, immersing everyone in the learning.
The FWSU Story 