Exploring Virtual Reality Research has shown that the inclusion of virtual reality can enhance the learning environment. VR supports the idea that students learn better when they are actively involved in their learning environment. (White, 1999) Melissa Rodhe April 16, 2019

What is Virtual Reality? The use of 3D objects and environments to create immersive and engaging learning experiences The term virtual reality is sometimes used more generally to refer to any virtual world represented in a computer, even if it's just a text-based or graphical representation.

Brief history for VR 1930’s - Scientists created the first flight simulator 1970’s - Hollywood was using technology for great effects 1980’s - Video game business took off Through the 1990’s the military and industrial industry put millions of dollars into technology Currently - virtual reality is changing the way we interact with technology -Wanted pilots to be put in “real” situations before actually flying and virtual reality was a way they could do this. This was cheaper to train pilots on the ground rather than in the air.

Three main forms of VR Helmet and gloves Video cameras Three dimensional images on a screen The helmet and gloves are linked to computers which are programmed with special sounds effects Video cameras are used to track the movement of the person and allow them to pick up and touch things Three dimensional images are on a large curved screen and 3D glasses are worn to give you a great sense of being in a virtual world

Three reasons why learning takes place in the VR environment Immersion Interaction Engaging -Immersion allows students to learn about something in an entirely new way – can represent concepts and procedures that may be intangible -Educational technologists say that there must be interaction with an environment in order for learning to take place -It allows students to understand and be engaged in something that previously they couldn’t understand

Benefits of VR in the classroom? Provides students an opportunity to directly relate to information in a visual form Engages the whole body as if they were physically present in the computer Experiencing something can be a lot more exciting than just listening about it Can help to motivate students Can provide alternative forms of learning that support different learning styles Allows students to experience something they wouldn’t otherwise be able to

Ideas for the Classroom Take virtual tours in geography class Explore real things in science Interact with people in other places Create and manipulate things like mathematical functions Interact with virtual beings such as historical figures Use VR in a foreign language class Explore existing places and things that students would not otherwise have access to or touch a globe and countries can pop out at your when pressed and you can experience culture and landscape as if you were there There are things that without some sort of alteration in scale for size or time that may not otherwise be examined – specifically in the sciences – experience photosynthesis or chemical interactions without blowing up the lab, dissections, learn anatomy on a virtual cadaver and the list goes on Interaction that because of time, distance or safety wouldn’t otherwise be possible Experimenting and being able to do hands on manipulations can help students to visualize rather than just try to picture in their minds, explore probability or run a business Find out about people from history that we would never get the chance to interact with otherwise Walk into a room and touch any piece of furniture, etc. and the room comes alive with the pronunciation of the object Use VR to work with abstract concepts in math to make sense of them Ask questions and walk through settings from history to get a feel for what they were like

Where is VR used today? VR is being used in a variety of different areas Business Entertainment Medical Air Force Online clothing industry Education Architecture Business is using to analyze data through charts Entertainment is using in gaming, virtual tours, etc. Medical field is using for to train surgeons and to help people experience their phobias in nonthreatening environments The Air Force for flight simulation Online clothing industry has created virtual dressing rooms so that customers can try clothes on in their own living room Learning to drive a car, drug education, geography, etc.

Virtual reality has the potential, if used correctly, to become a great technological advancement that will aide society in many ways. If used correctly students could gain a lot of learning experiences from virtual reality.

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Confucius

References Auld, L. & Pantelidis, V., Initials. (1994). Exploring virtual reality for classroom use. Tech Trends, Jan/Feb, 29-31. Javidi, G. (Ed.). (1999). Virtual reality and education. Tampa, Florida: University of South Florida Shaffer, J. (2002). Virtual reality in education. Retrieved on November 27, 2010, from http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/technology/shaffer.htm The virtual classroom: virtual reality in training and the classroom. (2010). Retrieved November 28, 2010, from http://www.scienceclarified.com/scitech/Virtual-Reality/The-Virtual-Classroom-Virtual-Reality-in-Training- and-Education.html Tiene, D. & Ingram, A, Initials. (2001). Exploring current issues in educational technology. New York, NY: McGraw- Hill. Virtual reality. (2010). Retrieved on November 28, 2010, from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/virtual_reality.html

References Continued Virtual reality. (n.d.). Retrieved on November 30, 2010 from http://www.fortunecity.com/campus/alfred/290/virtual.htm Virtual reality: history. (1995). Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://archive.ncsa.illinois.edu/Cyberia/VETopLevels/VR.History.html

Image References Google Images. (2010) [Image of helmet and gloves] Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1362&bih=561&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q= virtual+reality+experiments&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Google Images. (2010) [Image of woman & screen ] Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1362&bih=561&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q= virtual+reality+screen&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Google Images. (2010) [Image of combat] Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1362&bih=561&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q= virtual+reality+combat&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Google Images. (2010) [Image of eye] Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1362&bih=561&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q= virtual+reality+eyeball&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Google Images. (2010) [Image of a brave new world] Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/12/09/virtual-reality-a-brave-new-world/

Image References Continued Google Images. (2010) [Image of space] Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nUDJsVoQIP8/S6s4K- oY1JI/AAAAAAAAAgs/Vg2DRLMVhQo/s1600/mindarkesa1.jpg&imgrefurl= http://giulioprisco.blogspot.com/2010/03/european-space-agency-virtual- reality.html&usg=__N5Giiezz_89h44QQ2ZBFSPdonc4=&h=374&w=640&sz=56&hl=en&start= 96&zoom=1&tbnid=GRr5l2H1SlrKIM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=167&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvirtual%2 Breality%2Bspace%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D561%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disc h:10%2C1944&itbs=1&ei=Hq32TNmgB4H48AbMl6TaBg&biw=1362&bih=561&iact=rc&dur=15 6&oei=C632TOeJCML98Aaj3Pi8Bw&esq=6&page=6&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:96&tx=112&t y=23 Google Images (2010) [Image of flight simulator] Retrieved December 1, 2010 from http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/200 9/06/AC97-0295-13_a_01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://io9.com/5288859/7-virtual-reality- technologies-that-actually-work&usg=___tjv7gndJJdD3tRJU4qoYTOFL- M=&h=512&w=507&sz=50&hl=en&start=42&zoom=1&tbnid=BAPeDXWXD16hxM:&tbnh=126 &tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvirtual%2Breality%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih %3D561%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C877&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=118&vpy=224&dur=2 34&hovh=226&hovw=223&tx=124&ty=140&ei=8K_2TNPBMYL68AbJgri4Bw&oei=6a_2TISPH YK88gb-honEBw&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:42&biw=1362&bih=561

Image References Continued Google Images. (2010) [Image of child playing game] Retrieved December 2, 2010 from http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.wn.com/ph/img/c1/e4/78eea6da146aa7b8997e b177d551- grande.jpg&imgrefurl=http://wn.com/virtual&usg=__XSh5FQJn2Sw3dXYLBd15SXFv664 =&h=349&w=468&sz=42&hl=en&start=386&zoom=1&tbnid=dXn1UeU3132zYM:&tbnh=125&tbn w=177&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchild%2Bplaying%2Bvirtual%2Breality%2Bgame%26hl%3Den%2 6biw%3D1362%26bih%3D561%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:11%2C7610&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=50 3&vpy=216&dur=94&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=133&ty=121&ei=ITX4TMP- JIP58AbszbTFAg&oei=ADX4TI_lBcH78Aai7cnpDQ&esq=15&page=18&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:9,s: 386&biw=1362&bih=561