Session 3 - Fun with VR

Digital Learning:

Tonight we considered the place of augmented or virtual reality in the classroom as a way of allowing access to places and ideas that are not possible for the majority of students.  It was interesting as a novelty, but the time that would need to be put into putting together such resources as well as accessing the technology would make it a daunting prospect for many teachers.

We also considered the use of apps such as Quiver, Anatomy 4D, Elements 4D and Aurasma.  They have interesting possibilities once the "newness" of the technology is sorted out and more resources become available.

Anatomy 4D has been put into Year 9 HPE Theory as an adjunct to learning the names of some muscles on the body.

Leadership:

We discussed the paper that looked at Ten things that need to be considered when implementing digital technologies.  While it was from 2002, the principles behind it are still the same.

Most interestingly was a consideration of resistance framed in the idea of "distance" between pedagogies that have worked for the classroom teacher in the past and those new pedagogies coming out based in technology.  That distance creates tension.

Further, as the pace of change increases and the evolution of technology integration into education accelerates, many are being left behind because they find it difficult to keep up with the pace of change.  As they become familiar with one process or technique, it evolves into something new.

Related Standards for the Teaching Profession

Teaching

Provide opportunities and support for learners to engage with, practise and apply learning to different contexts and make connections with prior learning.

Professional Learning

Engage in professional learning and adaptively apply this learning in practice.