Virtual Reality: Apps, Ideas & Resources

Recently I worked with the Speech Therapists at Rocklin Unified to demo the use of Virtual Reality with their students. 
As a former history teacher, I usually think along the lines of the traditional classroom teachers. Even as new technologies come out I wonder about their use with teachers and students in classrooms. So, it was interesting to think like professionals who have different roles and responsibilities and wonder "how could I use this with MY kids"

Full disclosure!!! My wife is a Speech Therapist

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Resources

Cardboard Apps 

• ​Google Cardboard: This is the official site from Google about all things VR
• PhotoSphere & Google Streetview: Photo Spheres are the 360 images that you can shoot on your own. The Streetview app is the one you will need to view these
  • For iOS user here is the link - YOU WILL NEED THIS APP TO SHOOT YOUR OWN PHOTOSPHERE IMAGES
  • For Android users here is the  link - If you are using the default Google Camera you will find the Photo Sphere in your normal camera settings
• For other apps check out this article from wearable.com  about some of the best ones out there

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Photo Spheres
A Photo Sphere is a 360-degree panorama that lets you take immersive pictures with your phone, then share them online. You can pan and zoom, much like you can with the Street View feature we've all come to know on Google Maps. In order to take one you have to open up the app I shared above, stand in one spot, and take a series of 32 images. Afterwards, the software stitches them together. Since you are shooting 32 separate images, you will find some fuzzy edges at times, particularly if there are moving objects or people. You'll get better over time though!

Below is an screen shot of one of these Photo Spheres I took at at University of Nevada football game. But the still photo doesn't do it justice; try looking at this link which has the 360 degree view - and better yet, if you look at this with a VR viewer you get more of a sense that you are there. We've all seen these on Google Maps but just think, you can now make these of anywhere you go

Since these are online and able to be shared, then they also can be searched. So, now this is where educators can jump in and utilize them in their lessons. 

• History teachers can go have students see ancient ruins, modern buildings and museums
• Science teachers can have students see rain forests, mountain ranges and even underwater coral reefs
• Speech Language Pathologists can stimulate their students to work on language and fluency
• Math teachers can look at fractions (sorry... I don't get math. Anyone else with ideas for math applications?)
• And the rest of you out there, can you think of other ways to use this?

View-Master
The View-Master reels from the 70's & 80's were some of my favorite toys. These were the the stereoscope viewers that allowed kids and adults to view 3D scenes by simply swapping different reels.
Its exciting to see that the company has jumped into the VR world now as well. This time instead of using reels this View-Master uses a smartphone to do the much of the same idea which is split an image into two - one for each eye. 

• You can find these View-Masters at many retailers. Here is a link to Amazon where you can find them for $30
• They also sell reels which have content like Space, Oceans, etc that students can explore
• Check out this video of adults reacting to the new View-Master. You can see not just their reaction 

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Google Expeditions
This is a new program from Google which provides both the 
"Expeditions is a virtual reality platform built for the classroom. We worked with teachers and content partners from around the world to create more than 100 engaging journeys - making it easy to immerse students in entirely new experiences."

• Here is the link to the Google Expeditions project where you can see more about this project. Unfortunately the app itself is not open to the public yet but when this does become available it will be a highly engaging tool for a teacher lead an entire classroom. 
• I was able to visit Westlake Charter in Natomas and their Executive Director John Eick to see the Google Expedition program with real students. Here is a collection of photos I took of this pretty incredible experience.

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Star Wars & VR

Since everything on the planet has some connection to Star Wars, then VR is no exception. But unlike Darth Vader Mac n Cheese, this is a slick product.

With your VR viewer (cardboard, View-Master, or even one of these limited edition Verizon cardboard viewers which are currently sold out) you should check out the Star Wars app. Just search for this app on your app store and you will find it. 

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The Star Wars app has tons of things to do but check out JAKKU SPY. This is their VR experience where every two days or so they are releasing new mini-3D VR movies. They are short but very impressive and with the Cardboard experience it is a great introduction to the world of virtual reality. 

The photo below is both a screen shot of one of these mini-movies along with one of my co-workers experiencing the show. 

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Lastly, my co-host of our podcast Check This Out, Brian Briggs and I will be doing an episode of our show about VR soon and all the educational opportunities that are out there. If you have ideas or suggestions please reach out to me and I'll be sure to get it in the show. 

thanks