Learning by Doing: The Power of Immersive Learning Experiences

Not all of the most powerful learning situations are in the classroom. Here Shawn McCusker looks at examples of situated learning and how to provide students with deep learning experiences.

How do parents teach their young babies to walk? As infants transforming into toddlers, they cannot yet sit still for the ‘classroom portions’ of the walking process. Close your eyes and envision a small child learning that walking is just a well-controlled process of falling forward without falling down.

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      string(5752) "position. Using interactive, immersive, task- or project-based learning, we can now help learners to develop curiosity, creativity and collaboration while working towards learning the content that students require to pass exams. Ultimately, I would like to work with exam boards to determine how we can use edtech in new ways to assess progress, which I think is ultimately how we free up teachers and institutions to align learning with the development of skills that learners will need to thrive in their careers and their lives.Nano Simbox allows students to learn science differently. It exposes them to abstract science concepts, digital technology and self-guided exploration. We contextualise the science in a web of content, with major global challenges as a starting point, to enable students to develop a sense of responsibility and possibility with regard to the challenges they can be part of solving. Although the opportunity is there for free exploration, many teachers need to focus on working towards exams, so we link all our learning experiences to the curriculum, allowing the users to find new media to help explain tricky concepts. “Particularly around the virtual reality, augmented reality side of things, to actually go in and see molecules in the full round and climb inside a nanotube was just mind blowing.”Ian Major, Clevedon School.Opening the door to inclusivityScience is often only accessible to those who have a high aptitude in their school science subjects or those who have role models working within in the science industry and so it can seem scary to many students. The science industry still has some problems to overcome with regard to creating gender balance and attracting employees from a broad socio-economic background, but edtech can help find ways to overcome some of the barriers to entry. In the review of SES and Science Learning in Formal Educational Settings an attainment gap between students from different socio-economic backgrounds has been highlighted. “Unfortunately, existing research on pupils’ attainment in science in U.K. schools has consistently shown an uneven spread of scientific knowledge. There is a consistent link between pupils’ socio-economic status (SES) and their attainment and participation in science learning at school.” There are a number of hypotheses suggested in the report, as to why the current paradigm for science learning is not effective for low SES students, including: Lack of learning opportunitiesLack of interest in scienceLack of specific cognitive skills: literacy, scientific reasoning and meta-cognitionAll these hypotheses come down to one thing – learners don’t have the opportunity to develop confidence in tackling science or related subjects. 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We are building a community of science researchers, communicators, learners and educators to enable students to connect with science research that is taking place all over the world.For some children scientists are seen as people who are locked in a room with lots of chemicals swilling test tubes and that’s not right. We really need to show children what real scientists do – they’re real people every day using their knowledge, their intelligence, their thoughts and their research to develop new and exciting things.”   Phil Brook, Teacher Selwood Academy.Many students feel that STEM practitioners come from a different species and this is because they are missing out on role models. 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Creative Teaching & Learning

Opening Doorways to STEAM Learning

17 Jul 2018

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      string(5750) "position. Using interactive, immersive, task- or project-based learning, we can now help learners to develop curiosity, creativity and collaboration while working towards learning the content that students require to pass exams. Ultimately, I would like to work with exam boards to determine how we can use edtech in new ways to assess progress, which I think is ultimately how we free up teachers and institutions to align learning with the development of skills that learners will need to thrive in their careers and their lives.Nano Simbox allows students to learn science differently. It exposes them to abstract science concepts, digital technology and self-guided exploration. We contextualise the science in a web of content, with major global challenges as a starting point, to enable students to develop a sense of responsibility and possibility with regard to the challenges they can be part of solving. 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This is just the first step to inclusivity – we have more plans to make science accessible and attractive to anyone. Opening the door to connecting with other peopleIt is important that learners can connect with role models who are working within the science industry so that they can create a connection between what they are learning and potential careers in science. We are building a community of science researchers, communicators, learners and educators to enable students to connect with science research that is taking place all over the world.“For some children, scientists are seen as people who are locked in a room with lots of chemicals swilling test tubes, and that’s not right. 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Digital Learning

Digital Doorways Unlocking Scientific Potential

22 May 2018

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      string(5696) "There is so much discussion of how Augmented and Virtual Reality are transforming education, but it’s not always clear how that is happening. Like with many tech tools, there can be a learning curve and an initial investment, making it seem out of reach for many. Virtual Reality is simply an immersive type of technology that can convince the brain that it is somewhere it isn’t. It is excellent for being transported to a place where you are not, including going back in time to historical moments or places, or to allow travel to distant realms, such as space or the depths of the ocean. The technology consists of realistic 3-dimensional images that are often rendered in real time, offering visual perspectives that respond to changes in movement and interactions that mimic those experienced in the real world. To fully experience VR, a headset is key, and options range from inexpensive cardboard versions that connect with a smartphone, to top-of-the-line gaming headsets. However, even without a headset, some of the technology, such as the Discovery VR outlined below, can be experienced through a mobile device, where simply moving the device changes the vantage point of the image on the screen, allowing for 360-degree viewing. Augmented Reality is a computer-aided interactive experience where objects that exist in the real world are augmented by computer-generated images that enhance a user’s perception of the reality. The game ‘Pokémon Go’is a popular example of AR, where the real world is augmented with imaginary characters.For better or worse, VR and AR have often been developed to the highest levels in the context of the video game industry, which has made it a bit tricky to convince educators of its value in the classroom. However, it does appear that this trend is changing and there are many cutting- edge companies engaging with educational applications and thinking about how to harness its full power. Although there are many excellent VR/AR apps that are connected to teaching through subject-specific games, for this month’s App Reviews we have focused on apps that use VR more widely or which have innovative tools/approaches to teaching through this medium. It is clear that there is definitely value to this technology that has the potential to transform learning on many levels. Universiv unimersiv.com/The Universiv app claims to be the largest VR platform for educational experiences. Their belief is that virtual reality should not only be used for gaming, but that it ‘can have a greater impact in our lives’. And so, they have developed a learning platform that uses VR to fully immerse students in learning new material in a fun and engaging way. The experiences on offer include: Dinos, Journey into the Brain, International Space Station, Anatomy, Stonehenge, Titanic, Acropolis, Ancient Rome and Mars Curiosity Rover. Within the ISS experience, students are given the opportunity to float around and learn about different areas of the ship and another ISS experience provides an excellent narrated tour or free exploration of the exterior. The Titanic experience showcases many areas of the ship and allows for some free exploring. The Roman architecture experience allows students to see quality digital 3D re-creations of significant Roman structures. The app requires students to have access to a VR headset. It is currently available for Samsung Gear VR, Rift Oculus, Daydream, Cardboard and Vive. It is a free download but there are costs associated with some of the available material, often between $3-5. They advertise a school rate of $49/headset (not including the headset) for full access to all the content and future releases. Reviews of the app are mixed, with most reviewers noting that the experiences are uneven – some are really great and some less compelling, so it would be a good idea to do your own research before investing too much in it at the outset. Discovery VR www.discoveryvr.comNot surprisingly, the experts at Discovery Channel have delved into the world of VR with high-quality programs and engaging, innovative content. Discovery VR is a collection of videos from popular Discovery series such as Our World, Shark Week, Racing Extinction and many others, that have a 3D component. Their Our World series focuses on human activities both current and historical. These include: ‘Under the Net’ – a story about a child in a refugee camp in Tanzania who is affected with Malaria, ‘Sharm el Sheikh: By Sea and Sand’ – a look at Egypt’s city on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula and ‘A Day in the Life on the Refuge – a look at living in the Arctic, including activities like building a cabin and dog sledding. The Racing Extinction series looks at issues relating to animals, including titles such as ‘Fishing and ecotourism’, ‘The Lion Whisperer’ and ‘Protecting Ocean Anchor Species’. The videos are fairly short – between 1-9 minutes long – but the immersive aspect means the videos are different with every viewing, depending on the viewer’s vantage point. The videos can be viewed directly on a desktop browser, smartphone or tablet and moving the device around changes the perspective and offers a 360-degree view. If you have access to a VR headset, the videos are even more immersive, situating the viewer directly in the scene. The content and the app are free and the topics are interesting and relevant to a wide range of subjects and educational approaches. CoSpaces"
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Assistive Technology

Transforming the Classroom with Augmented and Virtual Reality Apps

6 Nov 2018

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e-Learning Update issue 67"
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      string(5743) "e-learning UPDATE www.teachingtimes.comREIMAGINING THE POSSIBILITIES OFEDUCATION…THROUGH VRIn recent years, virtual reality (VR) has fuelled imaginations of what is possible through simulated environments,offering experiences that people could only once dream about. While gaming has been the initial beneficiaryof VR, and has no doubt driven the market growth, the popularity and innovation of VR has helped drive thistechnology into new verticals such as healthcare and astronomy… and more recently into education.According to research from Zion Market Research, VR is expected to reach $26.89 billion by 2022, showing itsrising popularity in the years ahead.While technology as a whole has grown, the education sector has been far slower in adopting new technologieswithin the classroom. The UK education sector has shown a willingness to put technology in the hands ofstudents, such as smart panels and interactive displays, but still more must be done. Limited budgets and alack of time are often cited as the main barriers in delivering the best possible experiences for students, but VRHelping teachers with today’stechnologyAn ICT Update Publicationwww.teachingtimes.come-learningUPDATEMarch 2018http://www.teachingtimes.comhttps://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/virtual-reality-markethttp://www.teachingtimes.comThis month’sFEATURESe-learning UPDATE www.teachingtimes.comhas helped reimagine possibilities not seen in the past 20 years, reinventing the experiences of students for thebetter and helping address many of these challenges.Can virtual become a reality in education?To better understand the opportunities of VR within education, Lenovo conducted a study asking 500 primaryand secondary school teachers about their views on VR, producing a number of interesting findings.Incorporating VR within the classroom is a widely supported view from teachers across the UK, with an almostunanimous 94 per cent believing that it would benefit the classroom. Nearly half (42 per cent) predict that it willbecome commonplace in the next five years, which supports the projected growth of the VR market industry inthe coming years.Currently, as VR is still a relatively new technology, adoption is still very much in its infancy. Only 23 per cent ofteachers have used VR in the classroom thus far, but of those that have used it almost all (97 per cent) found thatit made for more engaged students. This comes at little surprise as students are no longer limited by textbooks,and instead offered 360 degree visual and immersive experiences, helping bring ideas from paper to life.Initial applications of the technology has seen a handful of educational VR headsets used within schools,especially as teachers familiarise themselves with the technology. As the technology evolves, VR headsets willbecome more popular across the education system, as both teachers and students alike begin tapping into thebenefits of VR.Offering unrivalled experiencesOne of the largest challenges in education that VR technology is helping tackle is making things in the world realand relatable, helping them better visualise topics such as science and geography. With limited budgets (71 percent) and time (42 per cent) being persistent obstacles in education in offering these experiences, two-thirdsof teachers believe VR is helping visualise things faster than previously possible. This works hand-in-hand withthe visually immersive experiences students are used to in their day-to-day lives, further enforcing the naturalprogression of the technology within education.Teachers cited that taking students to explore new worlds through VR technology would be one of the biggestpulls of the tech. Some of the key areas to explore included climbing to the top of Everest (67 per cent), seeingmoments in history like the D-Day Beaches in WW2 (66 per cent), or exploring wildlife and the natural world suchwatching a volcano erupt (65 per cent). This mirrors the subjects which teachers feel would most benefit fromVR, with Sciences (27 per cent) and Geography (23 per cent) making up the top two.But what VR is also helping overcome is the financial and physical barriers that some students face. For studentsunable to embark on field trips or trips abroad, VR can help ‘level the playing field’, enabling similar experiencesfor students from all backgrounds.There’s also the application for long-distance learning, where travelling for hours is eliminated as VR is easily ableemulate the appropriate learning environments. In higher education for example, you can imagine the power ofVR in helping recreate a lab environment for those studying sciences to get a visually immersive experience thatclosely mimics a real-life setting.http://www.teachingtimes.comThis month’sFEATURESe-learning UPDATE www.teachingtimes.comInspiring the next generationVR technology is enabling teachers to provide more immersive experiences for its students, but is also a realdriving force in inspiring the next generation of technologists. 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Digital Learning

Reimagining The Possibilities Of Education Through VR

6 Mar 2018

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      string(5690) "Creation: Especially in the area of politics, music has played a powerful role in history. In addition to evaluating the effect of music in history and politics, students can create their own. These have the benefit of being highly shareable and generating interest. They require students to evaluate what is key to their story in order or distill it into the framework of a song. Online tools such as Soundcloud are effective for publishing and sharing student songs and spoken word pieces. VideoThere is an abundance of tools for creating and sharing student video. Tools such asAdobe Spark Video can help students to create high-quality videos with great ease. Once comfortable, tools like iMovie can help students to create more technical products. Sample Video via Adobe Spark: Childhood Cancer Treatmentshttps://spark.adobe.com/video/kyQJqyWaUNZu8Student Video: Adam Smith vs. Karl MarxVirtual Tours We all strive to help history come alive for our students. One proven strategy is to have students engage in experiences that put them right in the action. The constraint that we face, however, is the ability to have students actually travel to these places. Virtual tours make that possible. Not only can students visit historically relevant locations, but also enter and explore many of the world’s most exclusive museum and cultural centers, right from a device! Here are practical ways that history teachers can help foster student engagement through virtual tours. Google MapsDo not underestimate the power of Street View. Yes, it can help with directions, but Google Maps can serve as a powerful learning tool for students to engage in virtual tours around the world. From real-time information about the location to quick photos and facts, students can quickly develop a more nuanced understanding of just about anywhere on earth. But how often do students unleash the power of Pegman in their classes? Yes, ‘Pegman’ (the little yellow character that you can click on and drop onto the map), enables students to immerse themselves right into the location they are exploring. The first, and most typical way is via Street View. But there are two other ways as well. A student can also explore photospheres (360 photos added to Google Maps that were not via the Street View camera) that enable them to view locations around the world that are literally off the grid. They can also view the inside of structures as well, such as museums and other cultural locations. Google Maps Tour BuilderLeveraging the power of Google Maps, Tour Builder is a platform that enables students to create their own virtual tour of locations around the world. The tour can also layer in content about each location, including text and embedded imagery and video. Students can create tours of historic military campaigns, explorer routes, cultural centers, and moreSample video of a Google tour of Champs-Élysées: bit.ly/googlemapstour Skype in the ClassroomSkype in the Classroom is a platform and online community that provides students with the opportunity to engage in live virtual field trips and connect with guest speakers. There are also opportunities to connect with classrooms and cultures from around the world to collaborate on projects. You can filter these experiences based on your subject, such as history and geography, as well as by location. Most of these also include lessons guides with clear learning objectives, activity descriptions, and connections to the ISTE standards. Guest Speakers https://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/find-guest-speakersVirtual Field Tripshttps://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/virtual-field-tripsCollaborationshttps://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/skype-collaborationsMore to Explore Tour Creator (VR) – Practical way to bring VR into the classroom experience. Geoguessr – Game-based learning that has students guess where they are in the world based upon context clues in Google Maps street view. Google Earth Voyager – Immersive virtual tours of places and cultures from around the world. Google Earth Engine Time Lapse / Highlights – Project that enables you to view how earth (anywhere you’d like to explore) has changed over the past 32 years. Fostering Dialogue and Discussion with Online Forums One proven way students gain a deeper understanding of history and its impact is engaging in reasoned discourse. Live classroom discussion is invaluable, but it can be enhanced through digital learning strategies. Not only can students engage in discussion before and after class time, but they can engage with community leaders and experts in the field right from their device. Let’s explore some ways that we can leverage technologies to amplify the impact of this student dialogue. Regardless of the platform, students need to learn strategies specific to engaging in academic discourse. Here are some examples of ideas that can be shared with students: Back up assertions with facts and reasoning.Ask questions for further clarification or insights. Be respectful when critiquing ideas, and use the opportunity to encourage further discussion. Be willing to take the conversation in new directions. Ask others whether they agree or disagree with your idea or assertion. Ask open-ended questions to classmates. Make connections between ideas.Do not immediately react with emotion to comments directed at you. 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Digital Learning

Constructing Narratives in the History Classroom

6 Nov 2018