Out of this World; Virtual Reality in the Classroom, Eleanor Roosevelt MS, Dubuque
Project Update: Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School is excited to be a recipient of the 2018-19 McElroy Excellence in Education Grant. The funds provided in the grant enabled us to purchase 8 sets of Oculus Go Virtual Reality goggles. Using the goggles have allowed 8th graders to virtually transport to the hideout home of Anne Frank, 6th graders to virtually visit the inside of a cell, and 7th graders to experience the sinking of the Titanic! By adding these virtual reality options to the classroom, we are making each learning experience much richer for students who may otherwise not be able to access such unique environments. Just simply donning a pair of Oculus Go Goggles gives students the opportunity to engage in the past, present, and future of our world and beyond, making content alive to help immerse students in a realm where they are free to interact with experiences and create new meaning. We are so grateful to the McElroy Foundation for giving our students such an out-of-this-world experience!
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Out of this World; Virtual Reality in the Classroom
This project includes purchasing eight sets of Oculus Go Virtual Reality Goggles and 360° experience apps, and integrating them as a differentiated station rotation in classrooms to help enrich the curriculum and enhance learning. Using the Oculus Go Goggles and 360° experience apps, students will virtually transport to another time, country, or even another planet! We would use the goggles with sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in Science, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Health, and Art classrooms. We will use the googles with all student in our building, 1148 students, in a variety of ways including enhancing language arts lessons by virtually touring Anne Frank’s secret annex where she lived for two years in hiding to bring her cramped living quarters to life for our students. Another activity we would like to facilitate is stepping back in time for a virtual tour of historical Olympia including the Olympic Stadium, Temple of Zeus and many more historical monuments as students study Ancient Greece in Social Studies class. The possibilities are limitless, but our overarching goal will be to provide an innovative and engaging way to interact with lessons to meet each standard.
Amount awarded: $1,692.00
Grade level: 6-8
School: Roosevelt Middle School
District: Dubuque
Teacher(s) name(s): Samantha Hancock
