Digital Learning at Grant Wood AEA
  • Home
  • Learn
    • Green Screen
    • Stop Motion
    • Physical Computing
    • Free Media
  • Think
    • Blog
    • BrightBytes
    • Tech Coaches
    • Blended Learning
    • Think Make Innovate
    • Edtech Take Out
  • Grow
    • Pear Deck Resources
    • Makerspaces
    • GWAEA Online Resources
    • OER
    • Computer Science
  • COVID19
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Learn
    • Green Screen
    • Stop Motion
    • Physical Computing
    • Free Media
  • Think
    • Blog
    • BrightBytes
    • Tech Coaches
    • Blended Learning
    • Think Make Innovate
    • Edtech Take Out
  • Grow
    • Pear Deck Resources
    • Makerspaces
    • GWAEA Online Resources
    • OER
    • Computer Science
  • COVID19
  • Contact

Creating an Immersive Digital Experience

1/16/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
What's the big deal about virtual reality?
What can I do with these new VR headsets?
This is really just an expensive toy - right??

Virtual Reality has been everywhere this year. And more than one household or classroom now has VR headsets thanks to the Christmas buzz!

​You could say that our DLGWAEA Christmas present came a bit early- when the Google Expeditions kit arrived this fall.  We have had a flurry of requests and opportunities to share Expeditions with classrooms and teachers across Grant Wood Agency, including a full day workshop that was held in early January.

Picture
Through all this interest one question remains for many educators and parents...  "Is this just a glorified toy?" 
​
“NO!”  I want to say loud and clear.  

But,  just saying no is really not enough.  Instead, I want to share an experience I had that demonstrates how this tool can be incorporated into the classroom to take student learning in a different direction.

Picture
This story begins with my new favorite book - Amplify! by Katie Muhtaris and Kristin Ziemke! This practical guide provides ways for teachers to bridge the gap between traditional and digital teaching methods.   It is one of those books that the more you read the more you want to share with others.  

If you haven't picked up your copy - I would highly recommend it!  It's great!

Picture
I can't take credit for discovering this book - it was recommended to me by Kristine Kliewer, an instructional coach at a local elementary school.  Kristine didn't just recommend it though, she also invited me to be part of a book study for one of the schools where she works.

Planning this study has been a rich experience for me - thanks to the discussions and ideas generated by the leadership of  Kristine and Ann Langenfeld, building principal.  This dynamic team is impacting student learning in so many ways!


As we dug into this book we really wanted to help the teachers compare and contrast different digital and analog tools.  Our goal was to help them move beyond digital=good & analog=bad to a deeper conversation.  One that focuses on the merits of all tools, since our ultimate goal is preparing students for work with a full toolkit of both digital and analog tools.  

Picture
And that brings me to the Immersive Digital Experience lesson.

We started with an essential question:  
          
How has climate change impacted coral reefs?
And added a standard:  
          
RI.6.7:  I can integrate information from various sources to develop an understanding of a topic or issue.

To set the stage for these Iowa students who are far away from a coral reef, we began with guided exploration of a reef using a Google Expedition.  Adding music to this exploration took it to the next level.  

Picture
Then the group broke into two. The pink group read an article online and created a sticky note chart with their new learning and additional questions. The blue group read a printed article and created a padlet of their new learning and additional questions.

Then we brought the groups together to discuss both the content and the process.  We created a pro and con table of the different elements as we talked.

What did we learn?  

  • Seeing the reef and hearing the music made the reading much easier to understand. As learners there was a 'hook' for the new learning to connect with.  
  • More group content discussion happened with the group who read the printed article.  It seemed like they could see when others were finished and started discussing this intriguing article before they went to the online padlet tool.
  • ​Reading the online article included images that added to that group's understanding - but logging into the site took a long time and was a hinderance for some.


Bottom line - VR tools need to be embedded in the art of teaching.  A VR tool in isolation can just be something bright and shiny.  When a teacher pairs a a digital tool with their own depth of teaching knowledge the world opens up for students in a different way.

​​​​​~Beth Swantz
@betswan

0 Comments

    Connect



    Blog Feed

    RSS Feed


    Like Us on Facebook

    Digital Learning at Grant Wood Area Education Agency

    Promote Your Page Too

    Our YouTube Show

    Picture

    Our Podcast

    Picture

    Our Tweets!

    Tweets by @DLGWAEA

    Authors

    Stacy Behmer
    Jonathan Wylie
    Gina Rogers
    Amber Bridge
    Beth Swantz

    Mindy Cairney
    Lynn Kleinmeyer
    Corey Rogers


    Archives

    November 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014


    Categories

    All
    3d Printing
    4Cs
    Assessment
    Augmented Reality
    Best Of The Web
    Blogging
    Board Games
    Coding
    Collaboration
    Communication
    Computer Science
    Connected Classrooms
    Creativity
    Device Deployment
    Digital Citizenship
    Digital Classrooms
    Elementary
    Flipped Classroom
    Formative Assessment
    GAFE
    Google
    Google Apps EDU
    Google Expeditions
    Green Screen
    Hattie
    Innovate
    Ipad
    ISTE
    Literacy
    Make
    Makerspace
    Office 365
    Pear Deck
    Personalized Learning
    PLN
    Podcast
    Professional Learning
    Research
    Service Learning
    Student Choice
    Think
    ThinkMakeInnovate
    Update
    Video
    Virual Reality
    Wakelet
    Web 2.0
    Youtube

Grant Wood Area Education Agency extends equal opportunities in its employment practices, educational programs and services, and does not discriminate on the basis of color, gender, race, national origin, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status or as otherwise prohibited by law. If you believe you or your child has been discriminated against or treated unjustly, please contact the Agency’s Equity Coordinator, Maria Cashman, at 319-399-6847 or 800-332-8488. Grant Wood AEA, 4401 Sixth St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

It is the goal of Grant Wood Area Education Agency that the information on our website be accessible to individuals with visual, hearing or cognitive disabilities. Good faith efforts have been made to ensure that our site complies with the world wide web consortium’s web content accessibility guidelines. Learn more here.