This week, we learned about layered reality and its uses in the classroom and library.
To start, I took a virtual field trip to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It walks you around the museum while music is playing and it is recorded as if you are the one walking through the museum. I then proceeded to make a QR code. using QRCode Monkey, which takes you to the virtual tour playlist that is on the Van Gogh Museums YouTube channel. I think something like this would be very useful if the art department or library did an art history month and showed different artists’ work. You could make a QR code that would then take students on different tours about the artist’s work.
Continuing the discussion with Van Gogh, I was able to go to the Van Gogh Experience in Washington DC while the exhibit was there on its tour. This exhibit gave patrons an immersive experience by projecting images of Van Gogh’s work all over a room and bringing the artwork to life as the boat from his painting Starry Night Over the Rhône would sail across the wall. Having an immersive classroom in the school would be useful for all kinds of subject matter as it allows the students to be transported to a location and “without the need for VR headsets, students can enjoy the experience together, and are encouraged to interact with each other.” (Immersion VR, 2020). For example, if a student was doing a report on different types of sharks, videos of sharks swimming around could be projected on the classroom walls so students can see the different types in their environment.
One way augmented reality could be used in the library is with book reviews like you see in this video by #QuickTips with Jacob. The students could borrow an iPad to scan a book they are interested in, either by QR code or by just scanning the cover as shown in the video, and students’ review of the book could pop up for others to read and see if it is a book they would be interested in reading.
There are cons to using technology like VR headsets, as Kim Murpee talks about: “When we first got them, we thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Murphree says. “And then about six months later, they were cracked and the foam that was around the eyepiece was half hanging off.” (Young, 2020). Equipment like VR headsets can be very expensive ranging from $399 to $9,000 per headset. There are cheaper options such as using your phone and putting it into a VR headset, such as a Google Cardboard, but there are limitations (Young, 2020). Cheaper ones while budget-friendly, may not let you have the full experience and while ones that are more expensive will give you more options, unless you know how to fully use it or upkeep the equipment, it will be a waste of thousands of dollars. The best thing to do is figure out what you want to use the equipment for and then do your research to see what would best fit your needs and budget.
For some, just a tablet will get the job done. The virtual tour I took on Google Arts and Culture could be done on an iPad or computer but they will still get the experience as they use the mouse to rotate the images 360. The virtual tour I took was Gustav Klimt at Lake Attersee. It was put together by the Klimt Foundations and shows 360 images of different places that inspired Klimt’s work as well as showing the artwork. I also liked that there was information that went with each image.
To summarize, there are a lot of amazing things that can be done with technology such as VR and AR. Just think of what you want to use it for and do your research before either spending a lot of money or no money at all.
References
Immersion VR. (2020, January 2). VR for education – the future of education. Immersion VR. https://immersionvr.co.uk/about-360vr/vr-for-education/
Klimt Foundation. (n.d.). Gustav klimt at lake attersee. Google Arts and Culture. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/mwUx09rCj_iGwg
#QuickTips with Jacob. (2020, August 2). How to create an augmented reality book review using reality composer on iPad. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAKOxugYRV4&t=132s
Richman-Abdou, K. (2019, June 2). The fascinating story behind the painting that led to Van Gogh’s ‘Starry night’. My Modern Met. https://mymodernmet.com/starry-night-over-the-rhone/
Van Gogh Museum (2020, April 7) Van gogh museum 4K virtual tour [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRDEmb5Eo_Y&list=PLp9bGKxyieV2dOlQUVMq0i_5QSShvghVP&index=1
Young, L. J. (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
July 17, 2022 at 7:29 pm
I was able to visit a Monet exhibit like your Van Gogh Experience while in North Carolina. It was amazing to sit and take in the 3D art while music surrounds you. I think your idea of having students in a classroom while sharks are projected on the walls would bring the same feeling of awe that I felt at the museum.
I also agree with feeling leery of purchasing VR headsets for a school library. I feel like there are too many opportunities for children to abuse or damage them. I know I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my students using them. I hate that I feel this way since the experience could be so beneficial, but I need to be realistic.
July 18, 2022 at 2:15 am
Hi Sarah!
I also loved the van Gogh field trip – it was a fantastic blend of the music and art. I’m not sure I felt like I was there, but it was a very cool experience and very professionally done. I actually went down a bit of a rabbit hole on some other VG videos!
You make a good point about using the tablets and things we might already have in hand. Besides the cost aspect, you’re right to point out that students could (and will) damage them! One of my primary concerns is the time aspect – is there any available to enjoy these the way they can be used?
Well done!
Karen