VIRTUAL AND AUGEMENTED REALITY AN INTRODUCTION

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VIRTUAL REALITY WHEN? WHAT? To better understand a concept being studied by placing them into that environment WHAT? “Completely Immerses Users in a Synthetic World without seeing the real world” (Carmigniani et al. 2011, P.342). VIRTUAL REALITY HOW? Through a traditional desktop or fully immersed using head mounted display WHY? Many curriculum connections. It offers a unique non-text-based alternative. Opportunity to explore places unavailable through other means (ie. space/ocean floor/inside of a body) Citation: Virtual Reality Society, (2016). Virtual Reality in the Classroom. Retrieved from, http://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-education/in-the-classroom.html Carmigniani, J., Furht, B., Anisetti, M., Ceravolo, P., Damiani, E., & Ivkovic, M. (2011). Augmented reality technologies, systems, and applications. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 51(1), 341-377. doi:10.1007/s11042-010-0660-6 ​

AUGMENTED REALITY WHAT? WHEN? To create layers of digital information on top of the physical world (Nesloney, 2013). To add/experience information in 3D and 4D. WHAT? Allows for the superimposing of information or virtual objects into the real world which results in a reality where virtual objects seem to coexist in the same space with the real world. (Azuma, 1997) AUGMENTED REALITY WHERE? Rather than just looking at the textbook, or watching a video, students can see the topic come to life in a 3D model through the use of the digital device WHY? Provides reinforcement and differentiated instruction offering non-text-based learning and interactive visual representations of abstract concepts which can be difficult to grasp (DNA, cellular structure, chemistry etc) Citations: Azuma, R. T. (1997). A survey of augmented reality. Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments, 6(4), 355-385. doi:10.1162/pres.1997.6.4.355 McKalin, Vamien (2014). Augmented Reality VS Virtual Reality: What are the Differences and What are the Similarities? Tech Times. Retrieved from, http://www.techtimes.com/articles/5078/20140406/augmented-reality-vs-virtual-reality-what-are-the-differences-and-similarities.htm  Nesloney, Todd (2013). Augmented Realities Brings New Dimensions to Learning. EDUtopia. Retrieved from, http://www.edutopia.org/blog/augmented-reality-new-dimensions-learning-drew-minock  ​

 http://arvrforeducation.weebly.com/

 GETTING STARTED

Getting Started with AR What Do You Need? Computer AND Tablet OR Smartphone** OR newer iPod (*See notes below re) smartphones specifications) What Application? Start with Aurasma - https://www.aurasma.com/ - Create a class email (you can do this in Gmail for example) this will allow you to all work under the same account login You can now use the tool for students to create “Auras” – An example lesson plan on this can be found on the Lesson Plan tab of my website - http://arvrforeducation.weebly.com/lesson-plans.html Video tutorial for how to use Aurasma - http://arvrforeducation.weebly.com/lesson- plans.html This is a great time to talk about copyright, privacy (don’t publish friends pictures online, digital citizenship, etc.) You can keep the account and auras private and then only when you are logged in to your class account on your smartphone/tablet etc. can you see them, OR you can make the auras public. By using a class email there are no associations between the aura and the child. The use of AR Auras for “presentations” etc. can be used for visually instruct or share information in multiple subject/curriculum areas.

Getting Started with VR What Do You Need? Viewer (i.e. Google cardboard/ Viewmaster/ etc) AND Smartphone** or newer iPod AND Headphones (optional but if you have more than a couple of people using headsets, headphones will be necessary to keep the noise down – as well headphones will provide a more immersive experience) Note ** some people have trouble (feel “seasick”) with VR – this is due to a number of factors related to the technology. The “seasickness” feeling seems to be more common in underwater experiences but not all kids will find this, and the bigger the screen on the smartphone, the better it seems to be. For safety purposes, I recommend you have your kids seated (those chairs with wheels that they can turn around on are good) and let them know if they feel sick from watching they can remove the headset) What Application? There are apps coming out daily but to get you started I will highlight just a few – more detail and lists can be found on the website which is regularly updated. Each of these can be found for iOS or Android via the apple or google play store – all are free. YouTube (on YouTube search for VR or Virtual Reality or Google Cardboard in your search to access videos) (360 pictures are also able to be accessed via YouTube) Within UNVR NYTVR Google Cardboard / Google Street view What to do? There are multiple examples of curriculum connections and lesson plan examples using VR on the website. Note ** I would recommend that you explore still image apps (i.e. Google cardboard/ Google Streetview/ YouTube 360 pictures BEFORE you expose the students to the videos. Once they experience a video you will have a hard time getting them back to the still pictures! *Lesson from my experience

DEPENDING UPON TIME ….

Explore Website to show the content available for access / use Couple of quick You Tube videos of interest to provide context and examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEmuEWjHr5c AR Definition couple of examples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioLdq2PelOM Education in the Future: VR and AR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etn2zCa7n40 Other examples Sponsored – EonVR – but shows an example of where the companies are going https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxZhHiV_SlA

Examples of AR Apps and Books The Numberlys by William Joyce The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce Idinosaur by Dr Darren Naish BSc MPhil Iscience: Elements, Forces and Explosive Experiments! by Mr Clive Gifford Istorm: Wild Weather and Other Forces of Nature by Anita Ganeri Princesses and Their Pals 3D Popar Toys Bugs 3D Interactive Children's Book Popar Construction Machines 3D Popar