Last year in my technology course, we went to the design lab and we played around with many different toys, one of the them being VR (virtual reality). You can see what we did then by clicking here!
This year we went to our local Design Lab which we then went through what we were going to be doing the next day at a local school with grades 5’s and 6’s. We walked through how to proper size all of the VR sets for the students, how to set boundaries, and preset the game so when students put on the VR set they did not have to do any setting up.
VR Activities
Reading:
We started off by having 5 different readers at different parts of the school, reading The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman. The grades 5’s and 6’s then got into groups and the first group went to reader number one, once they were done reading the first part, the students would be guided by another one of my peers to reader number two, etc. Once a group was finished with reader number one, then another group of students would go to that reader. That is how we funnelled students in.
Worksheet:
When students were waiting for their group to be selected for their turn to go to reader number one, they were working on a booklet that my professor provided. Students were working in groups and the rest of my peers who were not reading or guiding students to the next spot were walking around helping students complete the pages in the booklet.
VR:
Once students finished all five parts of the book, they headed back to the classroom. This is when all of the EKTEP (East Kootenay Education Program) teacher candidates helped the students size their headsets and helped then through the story. We also had iPads that were connected to each students VR set so we could see what they were doing. Students loved watching the iPads to watch their friends during their experience.
Here is a video of what the students saw. The students get to be Lucy’s friend and help her show proof to her family that there are wolves in the walls. It is an interactive story where the students get to take pictures, help Lucy get the wolves out of the walls, draw, etc.
Connection to the BC Curriculum (ELA)
Big Ideas – Language and text can be a source of creativity and joy.
Curricular Competency – Understand how literary elements, techniques, and devices enhance and shape meaning.
Content – Text features and literary elements.
Big Ideas – Language and text can be a source of creativity and joy.
Curricular Competency – Recognizing how literary elements, techniques, and devices enhance meaning in texts.
Content – Text features and literary elements.
Cross Curricular – Applied Design, skills, and Technologies, Drama
Reflection
During my time with this class, I walked around to different reading groups to see how they were doing, I helped students work on the booklet, and I helped students fit their VR sets and make their way through the VR story. The students were engaged and enjoyed the VR experience. This is something that I would like to see more often. I know it cannot replace reading an actual book but I think it gives students a different perspective and really engages them in the story.