Before starting this week, I had a basic understanding of AR from using it with a preschool group; my knowledge of AR and VR tools has been further developed with the help of Team Yellow’s activities, where we explored different tools. Dick (2021) outlined many other ways that AR or VR can be used in a K-12 setting, and I enjoyed many of their ideas and saw the potential of using it cross-curricularly.
The most surprising thing I learned throughout the week was how far back this technology goes. Like much of what I learned in the MALAT program, ED Tech is not as new as some think. These tools have been around for a long time but are getting more advanced, so they are popping up more, especially in K12 education and students with learning disabilities (Dick, 2021). While they are becoming more popular, they still require a lot of outside technology, such as tablets, computers or headsets, which are resources that may only be available in some schools. Thus, while they are great ways to offer more immersive learning, not every student or school has the means to use these tools. Further, many of these applications are not free, another barrier for schools to use with students.
If the school had access to AR or VR resources, it would be an excellent way for educators to offer students a more interactive way to learn. From my experience using Quiver, I see a lot of potential, as this website and application provide various resources and activities that cover many school subjects. More examples of how I would use such tools would be to find ones that offer virtual field trips so students can explore history, art and other subjects in which they expand their worldview without needing to leave the classroom. These are just some initial ideas; as I mentioned in the discussion, I was intrigued by these tools and plan on further exploring them and finding free ones that can be used, as I believe they have many uses in the classroom.
Reference
Dick, E. (2021, August 30). The promise of immersive learning: Augmented and virtual reality’s potential in education. Itif.org. https://itif.org/publications/2021/08/30/promise-immersive-learning-augmented-and-virtual-reality-potential/
I completely agree with your observation about the hardware being a significant barrier to access. The need for tablets, computers, or headsets can indeed limit the adoption of these technologies in many schools. It’s a real challenge when budget constraints prevent schools from accessing these innovative tools.
That being said, it’s interesting to consider how technology adoption has evolved in the past. For instance, smartphones were once considered luxury items, but now they’re ubiquitous – Almost everyone has a smartphone these days, despite their high cost. Do you think we might see a similar trend with VR goggles in the future? Could they become as commonplace as smartphones, making immersive learning experiences more accessible to all students?