Make XR mini-book

AR, VR, 3D + more for Education >

How any teacher can transform learning with Extended Reality tools like VR, AR, 3D objects and more. |

Most of the worlds population will only ever get to travel to small areas of the globe, or experience just a fraction of the possibilities that life offers. Similarly, it used to be that access to advanced tools like Virtual and Augmented Reality, 3D objects, 360 degree videos and Holograms was only available in high-end technology labs. However, recent developments now mean that not only are these tools widely available, but that the extra immersion they bring marks out a new era for learning. |

“Our research shows virtual simulation is as good or better than traditional teaching methods” - William Sheehan, Director Medstar Training Lab |

Across many industries such as Medicine, VR and AR are already being used to increase the impact of learning. While the conscious mind may know what it is interacting with is not real, the effect on memory and understanding of experiencing and emphasising with new environments in digital form still leaves a lasting effect on the brain that is comparable to real life. Edgar Dale's ‘The Cone of Experience’ is widely asserted to underscore this with his idea that generally, people remember 10% of what they read, but closer to 90% of what they design, do and experience. Add in the fact that the range of experiences can extend out into space or back in time and the possibilities to enhance learning via such XR ‘extended reality’ tools are numerous. |

“To move beyond pure novelty in education, virtual reality needs to shift from a platform of purely consumption, to one of creation and immersive storytelling” - Greg Kulowiec, EdTech Leader |

However, as noted by leading Education and Technology teacher Greg Kulowiec, just consuming virtual content is not enough. The real breakthrough beyond how well XR can stimulate understanding is for students and teachers to move up the hierarchy of learning or SAMR ladder to create and share their own content. Gaining such next-gen storytelling abilities not only sets them up to be future ready no matter what effect AI and robotics have on society and work, it empowers them to confidently share their own ideas and voice in a way that showcases competence and mastery in ways never before possible. |

This mini-book aims to share how such tools can be embraced in any classroom with tips, best-practice ideas and sample lesson workflows pitched at playful beginners ready to ride the 4th wave of the technological revolution and at the same time, become the leaders who other educators and students will look to. |

Many thanks to the IT team and teachers at St Peters Lutheran College for their support, to the CoSpaces Edu and FutureWe communities, and to the foundational models it draws on - Cone of Experience, SAMR and FutureWe Readiness Framework.