I chose to take a virtual field trip to the North Pole. I have linked the actual field trip with the QR code below.
I chose the North Pole because it is extremely hot here in the summer and I needed a cool, calm, chilling spot took the cake today. I was amazed how it was shown in 360 degrees on a flue and everyone was standing on just a chunk of ice and were surrounded by a huge ship that to me looked as if it could sink through the ice at any moment. You could then rotate completely up in the sky to see the north star. The text snippets they provided were so informative and could be extremely useful in the classroom. These included the sun, latitude, longitude, islands, old buildings, climate, ice formations, narwhals, and polar bears.
QR code: Man, that was easy to design. Whenever I have used QR codes in the classroom I always used the basics. I enjoyed being able to change the design and also the color! I used QRcode monkey to design my QR code for my virtual reality trip.
Readings:
The Youtube video that pulled at my heartstrings this week was the telepresence and double robot (). Jasmine, the feature of the video just broke my heart. Technology has totally transformed not just her education but her life. You could see her interacting with other students and going through the halls. I can’t imagine having a disability that kept me homebound and the amount of work that her school system along with the fundraising by her peers put in to include her just tells a heartbreaking success story.
I have also hung onto a quote from the School Library Journal. Katie McNamara is a teacher librarian in California .She was in this journal article about virtual reality headsets. McNamara’s direct quote was “being a connected educator is the only way to survive as an librarian” (Young, 2020) . So many of us in the MLIS program are classroom educators first and build our resumes to include librarianship. I look forward to helping other educators on the media and technology side of the library and not just someone who checks out books. Understanding the whole purpose of education to help build the library around these projects, makerspaces, and robotics could really boost a library’s morale. It almost motivates me for the future to create a space for not only students but fellow teachers as well.
My biggest fear in reading these articles is the cost in funding many of these media opportunities. The virtual field trips are a great idea for geography, history, science, foreign language, art, and of course the library! I’m not sure how much I would use them in my math classroom unless I had a window to do something fun on a Friday.
References:
Young, L. (2020 April 7). Get the most from AR/VR technology without breaking the budget. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/story/get-the-most-from-ar-vr-technology-without-breaking-budget-library.
Case Study: Sebasticook Valley Middle School + Double Robotics. (2015 June 17)
The North Pole, how fun! I too was deeply moved by Jasmine. I loved how her peers responded so positively to her.
The cost of technology is a big obstacle for many school systems. I like your idea of creating a space for colleagues as well as students. I see school librarians as offering assistance and information to everyone, not just the students. I loved the Double Robot video as well. It was so heartwarming to see Jasmine finally get to attend school and be accepted.
I also went somewhere cold! I’m really ready for some cooler weather! I was very emotional watching Jasmine’s story. What an amazing tool for everyone in the school.
Jasmine’s story was truly moving. I agree with the principal in the video that it was not only beneficial for her but for her peers as well. Diversity helps us see that we are more similar than different.
I’ll have to check out the link to the North Pole. I have no desire to travel anywhere cold in real life so it would give me a glimpse at something I might not otherwise seek out. Give me heat and summer any day over snow and ice.
I went back and checked out the North Pole after I read about you wanting someplace cold! It was a good one! Thanks!
As so many have said, it was so heartwarming to see Jasmine able to participate in school and be accepted by her peers. It would be so amazing if these technologies became part of our normal school routine.
I also am geared to help with media and technology as a school librarian! I’m pretty good with integrating tech
*integrating technology in my current classroom.
(Sorry for the double post! I’m on my phone and my thumb bumped the post button.)