Virtual Reality Field Trips
Virtual Reality Field Trips
After reading this particular article for Module 9, I felt torn and had many differing thoughts.
Pros
For one, I thought the idea to incorporate VR into field trips, particularly for schools not as well-funded as others, is a great opportunity for children to explore spaces not readily available to them. Through VR technology, children are able to access museums, world heritage sites, and even places like the International Space Station. Creating an equitable playing field for ALL children to enjoy should be at the foreground for education professionals meeting the community’s information needs. Children also get the added benefit of using technology they may not have access to outside of the school setting.
I found the YouTube video below to be such a creative and innovative way of teaching children through VR without the need for headsets. This project must have cost a ridiculous amount of money (I wasn’t able to find a budget), but I loved the forward thinking approach Framestore had for creating an immersive 4D experience children could enjoy.
Cons
I remember the anticipation leading up to going on a school fieldtrip (getting a permission slip signed, packing a lunch, choosing an outfit, sitting with friends on the bus) and how exciting the whole experience was. I still have vivid memories of the field trips I got to go on because of the shared physical experiences with others outside of school. Having the ability to touch, smell, see, and fully experience the physical space during a field trip helps stimulate the brain to record memories. I agree with McShane’s assessment in the last paragraph of the Forbes’ article: “Maybe before we go full bore into virtual reality, we should think about how we can improve access to current field trip opportunities” (2018). The YouTube video below goes into more detail about how stimulating the five senses helps trigger memory retention:
I personally feel like including VR into lessons as a supplemental learning tool is a great way to reach students through multiliteracy, but should not replace the physicality of experiencing real spaces.
References
McShane, M. (2018). Is virtual reality the future of field trips?. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemcshane/2018/06/13/is-virtual-reality-the-future-of-field-trips/#626ae5d91809
Trevor Muir. (2023, November 2). The science of senses and memory. [Video]. https://youtu.be/NWot-hOeDKI
Unreal Engine. (2016, August 15). Field trip to Mars: Framestore’s shared VR experience/project highlight/unreal engine. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0XNlsXnKp0
3 Comments
Millicent
@claireburke I agree that VR field trips by no means replace physically going on a field trip, but I do feel like they are supplemental. Maybe it wouldn’t replace field trips, but it could be “mini field trips” in between. It would allow users to go to places far away, that they probably wouldn’t be able to experience otherwise. I would have absolutely loved something like this when I was younger!
Michael Stephens
@claireburke I so agree with you about the plus and the minus of the VR field trip. I would hope that we will find a balance eventually between connecting via VR to some very far away place that it would be impossible to get to for a field trip and having that experience of going to a place with all of its sensory inputs.
Valancy
@claireburke I agree with what’s been said so far by others, and with what you yourself said about VR fieldtrips! I remember reading about the senses and memory retention when I was studying for the MCAT (when I needed those memory skills the most, RIP). I like the idea of using VR to reach places that would otherwise be out of budget, but to still keep those physcial trips in place where possible. Even going somewhere local as a kid was exciting, so I think a balance could definitely be struck. Great reflection!