Making My Way Down The Hall To Play With VR!

 Hey Everyone!!!

Today, we are going to talk about VR with Google!!

Rice and Galbraith (2008) expresses that, “Virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) is a phenomenon that has been in its varying growth stages for years (in the case of VR, decades, as far back as the 1930s). But, today, with a headset available to some and a hand-held device available to many, it benefits library users who are fully expecting such enriched services in the future to include VR or AR” (p.796). Several high tech devices have been created for entertainment and can be used for education; however, it is usually expensive. Therefore, Google has an easier and less expensive alternative called Google Cardboard.

Google Cardboard is, “VR experience starting with a simple viewer anyone can build or buy. Once you have it, you can explore a variety of apps that unfold all around you. And with plenty of viewer types available, you're sure to find one that fits you just right” (Google). The most important aspect of Google Cardboard is that you can pick any viewer from prices that range from $9-$40 and you can use it with any phone. Most of our middle and high school students have their own phones, so they would just have to download the apps to participate in the lesson. 

If you would like to view the apps, then please click on the picture above! I definitely recommend trying various apps that you think would work best for you and your students due to there being about 30 apps that can be used for an amazing experience. 

What can librarians do with this resource to help with student engagement in the classroom? 

There is a plethora of resources that can help anyone use Google Cardboard: 

1. Here is a website that has A LOT of resources and even training resources: https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/ultimate-google-cardboard-expeditions-resource-guide/ 

2. Here is a link to CNET on Youtube that presents an instructional video and showcases all the VR videos you can use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1YHKSjp5bk 

Now, one lesson in particular that I have used VR with is viewing Exoplanets during our Astronomy Unit. I did not have Google Cardboard and I definitely wish I had. In this lesson, students are to follow along in this video: 

As they follow along, they are to document the weather, temperature, distance from Earth, and whether they can survive on this exoplanet. This VR video takes them to 6 exoplanets that have been discovered by scientists. It shows them what the planet looks like from space and then they dive right onto the surface to explore everything that planet has to offer. It is always a big hit with my students because they get to see an exoplanet that is very similar to Earth! 

If you have any questions, then please comment below!!!

References

Bell, K. (2017). The ultimate google cardboard and expeditions resource guide. Shake Up Learning. https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/ultimate-google-cardboard-expeditions-resource-guide/ 

Google. (n.d.). Google cardboard – Google VR. Google VR. Retrieved April 7, 2023, from https://arvr.google.com/cardboard/ 

Rice, D., & Galbraith, M. (2008). Using virtual and augmented reality in the library. Emerald Insight. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/NLW-08-2015-0054/full/html