Blog Post #9 - Virtual Reality

 The first time I remember seeing anything about virtual reality was in the movie, Disclosure, starring Michael Douglas and Demi Moore.  Michael Douglas is a computer specialist and virtual reality is used in the film with a headset.  The movie was produced in 1994 and I don't remember seeing anything else about virtual reality for many years.  I don't know what year Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC came out with Virtual Reality platforms and headsets, but we would take our second graders on a field trip there each year and the Virtual Reality headsets were one of the biggest hits of the day.

I chose to explore the Oculus Quest 2 by Facebook for this blog post.

This gives you a comparison of two different headsets.  I think the Rift is more for gaming and the Oculus Quest 2 is more for experiences.  



The Oculus Quest 2 begins at $299.00 for128 GB of storage and $399.00 for 256 GB of storage.  I could get past that number but the number of accessories it needs can add up and make the headset cost-prohibitive.  The experiences look and seem incredible and I really feel like it definitely enhances the learning experience, but I just don't know how many schools can afford such a cost.  

I found a YouTube video about educational experiences with the Oculus Quest 2 and I thought I would share that as well.


One of the things that the video mentions is the experience of going into Anne Frank's hiding space in Germany.  This could truly enhance a study of World War II by our fifth graders and then taking an experience in Germany would make this a fascinating study.  It mentions explorations in Space and with the stars which would greatly better a study of the planets and Space.  

I love the idea of Virtual Reality and the Oculus Quest 2!  I hope the price will slowly come down and make them more affordable in schools.  I would love to see the expressions on faces and feelings coming out as children experience this in the library and classrooms.

References

BMF VR. (2020, March 20). Oculus Quest used in education [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uot5AAAcVIk

Oculus. (2021, October 26). Oculus Compare Headsets. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://www.oculus.com/compare/


Comments

  1. crysannNovember 11, 2021 at 7:27 PM

    I would love to have one of these but, YIKES! Those are some expensive devices. I do feel like they could greatly enhance some learning experiences for kids. I wonder if there are grants that would cover a class set of these. That would be amazing!!
    -Crystal Smoak

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susanne ClarkNovember 11, 2021 at 9:04 PM

    My first reaction to VR headsets was the cost barriers as well and how they would be limited to well funded schools. But that is part of where an informed media specialist has to be able to advocate for the benefits of these types of technology for meeting curriculum content and standards. I have seen our high schools invest heavily into tech that build workforce skills in advanced manufacturing that teach very specialized skills. The VR headsets can be used teach skills from areas like health care, astronomy to social skills. Being able to reach a much broader set of objectives can help justify the cost. The Accelerated Reader program used to cost our school over $10,000 a year, but they didn't bat an eye to pay out for a program that doesn't actually teach anything. So the money can be found but we have find ways to advocate how the tools can make an impact.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DeAnna OwensNovember 12, 2021 at 11:47 AM

    The third video you shared was awesome. I agree with you and the creator of the video that these headsets definitely have a place in education. I didn't take time to explore the accessories needed and I don't have any real life experience with school budgets, but it seems that having a few on available for teachers to check out, or for students to use in the library would be worth it. I'm particularly impressed with the variety of subject areas represented. How awesome is the Tilt Brush game?! The librarian gets to play too, right?! :)

    -DeAnna Owens

    ReplyDelete
  4. S SultonNovember 13, 2021 at 12:26 PM

    Wow! Oculus Quest 2 sounds pretty amazing! It offers such a wide variety of educational games, and I am sure everyone would find something to use in their classroom. Students would absolutely love to use this. It’s interactive and engaging. The cost may hinder some from purchasing the equipment, but several STEM grants could provide funding for purchasing VR for education.

    Stephanie Sulton

    ReplyDelete
  5. ForrestsNovember 14, 2021 at 2:56 PM

    This does look great! As other comments have mentioned, the cost would be a hindrance for most school libraries. The reality is that grants would probably need to be part of the conversation regarding these devices in a public school setting. That being said, I love the versatility of the experiences available and could see this being a fantastic resource in a school library. - Tiffany Forrest

    ReplyDelete
  6. Caitlin TillerNovember 14, 2021 at 7:38 PM

    I do hope there is a grant out there for purchase of these for a school library because I would love to have them! I love the thought of students visiting Anne Frank's hiding space when studying WWII. Fifth grade social studies is one of my favorite things to teach and as I read more about the possibilities for virtual field trips with the VR headset, I dream up some awesome activities for my students!

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