Virtual Reality (Teacher Notes)
Objectives/outcomes
The definition of virtual reality comes, naturally, from the definitions for both ‘virtual’ and ‘reality’. The definition of ‘virtual’ is near and reality is what we experience as human beings. So the term ‘virtual reality’ basically means ‘near-reality’. This could, of course, mean anything but it usually refers to a specific type of reality emulation. People can use virtual reality headsets to see virtual environments in full 360 degrees. This has slowly grown over the last few decades to be used to help with learning, navigation, sport, exploration and more.
What will you need?
For the activities in the Virtual Reality Pupil Activity Pack, pupils will need access to the Co-spaces website. It is free for teachers to use the Co-spaces website with a class of pupils but there is an additional cost for extra pupils, premium items and to save multiple environments (Spaces).
You can create a teacher account, then a class which has a code. Pupils could sign up by joining the class with the code, which gives you (as teacher) access to the virtual reality environments. There is a full guide to setting up Co-spaces with your class here. You can add assignments to a class for the pupils to attached their spaces to, this helps with assessment. There are details using assignments here. You could use the assignments to gives details of our Pupil Activity Pack below. When pupils are creating spaces in 'Free Play' then click the 3 dots next to the space's name and 'Give Teacher Access.' This means that, from the teacher login, you can see their spaces by going to 'Manage Users.'
Optional
In order for pupils to see the environments in virtual reality, then the pupils will need access to a headset of some kind. This page goes through all the different VR headsets Cospaces is compatible with but one of the cheapest options is Google Cardboard. You could then use a smartphone with the Cospaces Apple or Android app to show pupils their environments. To use this, make sure pupils have given you access to their spaces (see above) and then login into the app, go to the class, then pupil and open their space. Tap on the play icon and put the phone into the Google Cardboard glasses.
Objectives/outcomes
- - What virtual reality is and how it can be used to help people.
- How to create a virtual reality environment
- How to add, move and resize objects in a virtual reality environment
How to add animate objects for realism.
Use code blocks to add movement (with grouping) and interactions (conditions). - - Create multiple scenes of VR environments
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The definition of virtual reality comes, naturally, from the definitions for both ‘virtual’ and ‘reality’. The definition of ‘virtual’ is near and reality is what we experience as human beings. So the term ‘virtual reality’ basically means ‘near-reality’. This could, of course, mean anything but it usually refers to a specific type of reality emulation. People can use virtual reality headsets to see virtual environments in full 360 degrees. This has slowly grown over the last few decades to be used to help with learning, navigation, sport, exploration and more.
What will you need?
For the activities in the Virtual Reality Pupil Activity Pack, pupils will need access to the Co-spaces website. It is free for teachers to use the Co-spaces website with a class of pupils but there is an additional cost for extra pupils, premium items and to save multiple environments (Spaces).
You can create a teacher account, then a class which has a code. Pupils could sign up by joining the class with the code, which gives you (as teacher) access to the virtual reality environments. There is a full guide to setting up Co-spaces with your class here. You can add assignments to a class for the pupils to attached their spaces to, this helps with assessment. There are details using assignments here. You could use the assignments to gives details of our Pupil Activity Pack below. When pupils are creating spaces in 'Free Play' then click the 3 dots next to the space's name and 'Give Teacher Access.' This means that, from the teacher login, you can see their spaces by going to 'Manage Users.'
Optional
In order for pupils to see the environments in virtual reality, then the pupils will need access to a headset of some kind. This page goes through all the different VR headsets Cospaces is compatible with but one of the cheapest options is Google Cardboard. You could then use a smartphone with the Cospaces Apple or Android app to show pupils their environments. To use this, make sure pupils have given you access to their spaces (see above) and then login into the app, go to the class, then pupil and open their space. Tap on the play icon and put the phone into the Google Cardboard glasses.
Augmented Reality
If you have a newer iPads or Android tablets, you can download the Apple or Android app., log in to your teacher account, making sure pupils have shared their space with you (see above) and then find their space in the class and open it. There should be an AR icon in the bottom right corner (if your device is compatible) which then uses the camera to place the VR environment (minus background) into the classroom etc. This is a nice alternative to the VR glasses/headsets. You can find out more about augmented reality using our Augmented Reality Activity Pack.
If you have a newer iPads or Android tablets, you can download the Apple or Android app., log in to your teacher account, making sure pupils have shared their space with you (see above) and then find their space in the class and open it. There should be an AR icon in the bottom right corner (if your device is compatible) which then uses the camera to place the VR environment (minus background) into the classroom etc. This is a nice alternative to the VR glasses/headsets. You can find out more about augmented reality using our Augmented Reality Activity Pack.
Why teach virtual reality?
Virtual reality has been used for many years but has only recently come into education. As the first video in the Pupil Activity Pack explains, more and more virtual reality is being used in different industries to help people learn, work, train and explore. The pupils of today will very likely use virtual reality in their job. The skills covered in this activity pack also help develop key computing skills such as graphical and 3D design plus coding elements.
Virtual reality has been used for many years but has only recently come into education. As the first video in the Pupil Activity Pack explains, more and more virtual reality is being used in different industries to help people learn, work, train and explore. The pupils of today will very likely use virtual reality in their job. The skills covered in this activity pack also help develop key computing skills such as graphical and 3D design plus coding elements.
Teacher Input
The first video of the Pupil Activity Pack, includes a video explaining what VR is and how it used. You could watch this video as a class and discuss the terms '360 degrees' and 'immersive.' Pupils could also discuss ideas of how VR could be used in others beyond what is mentioned in the video.
Pupil Activities
The Pupil Activity Pack guides pupils through creating a project and introduces the skills mentioned above. Pupils can work at their own pace but should be encouraged to experiment with the different tools. There are challenges for pupils to use the skills to build their environment and make it more realistic. The activity pack uses the underwater environment so you may need to ask your pupils to do the same so they can build their skills before moving onto other environments.
The first video of the Pupil Activity Pack, includes a video explaining what VR is and how it used. You could watch this video as a class and discuss the terms '360 degrees' and 'immersive.' Pupils could also discuss ideas of how VR could be used in others beyond what is mentioned in the video.
Pupil Activities
The Pupil Activity Pack guides pupils through creating a project and introduces the skills mentioned above. Pupils can work at their own pace but should be encouraged to experiment with the different tools. There are challenges for pupils to use the skills to build their environment and make it more realistic. The activity pack uses the underwater environment so you may need to ask your pupils to do the same so they can build their skills before moving onto other environments.
Assessment
As mentioned above, pupils can give access to their VR spaces in Co-spaces. This means as a teacher, you can see the pupil's work from your own login. Please use our assessment grid below, which can be adapted to your class.
As mentioned above, pupils can give access to their VR spaces in Co-spaces. This means as a teacher, you can see the pupil's work from your own login. Please use our assessment grid below, which can be adapted to your class.
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Cross curricular links
This virtual reality activity pack can be used to support a wide range of subjects.
- Build story settings to inspire descriptive writing.
- Use the code blocks to add dialogue between characters.
- Use the interactive tools such as collecting objects (as shown in the pupil activity pack) to create an adventure story between different scenes of VR environments.
- Use the upload feature (last task of Pupil Activity Pack) to create a virtual art gallery of the pupil's artwork.
This virtual reality activity pack can be used to support a wide range of subjects.
- Build story settings to inspire descriptive writing.
- Use the code blocks to add dialogue between characters.
- Use the interactive tools such as collecting objects (as shown in the pupil activity pack) to create an adventure story between different scenes of VR environments.
- Use the upload feature (last task of Pupil Activity Pack) to create a virtual art gallery of the pupil's artwork.
