Every Friday, I’ll recap some of the most interesting news and thought-provoking developments from the past week.
I can’t fit all of this week’s news stories here, though, so feel free to browse eSchool News and read up on other news you may have missed.
New technologies and technology trends emerge all the time, but a few seem to have staying power in K-12 classrooms. Virtual reality and virtual field trips, augmented reality, and gaming are all moving from “cool” technologies to instructional approaches with research-backed merit.
Read on for more:
5 apps to jump-start augmented reality in the classroom
It’s fair to say that augmented reality has moved from a cool technology that might be neat for students to try to a credible teaching tool that fits just as easily in K-12 classrooms as it does in higher education. Advocates have long said augmented reality helps boost student engagement and also helps reach those with varying learning styles.
This immersive VR platform was designed with education in mind
A new virtual reality program, designed in part for educators, is giving a whole new meaning to the virtual classroom. Compatible with VR platforms like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, the new program, called Engage, lets up to 30 simultaneous users join and interact in an immersive, virtual meeting — which could be set in a museum, historical site, or the surface of Mars.
5 useful tips to get the most out of virtual field trips
To help educators save time, we’ve put together a quick recap on how to prepare for your next virtual field trip (VFT) and five of the best VFT’s based on their relevancy, quality of resources, and potential for student excitement. Student engagement starts with excitement, so get planning.
Survey: K-12 gaming use has doubled in the last six years
Gaming is growing, that’s for sure. We read about it in survey results, we hear about game-based learning in conference sessions and during webinars, and we stumble across it in news coverage. In fact, teachers’ use of game-based environments and online apps has doubled in the last six years, according to the annual Speak Up survey.
- Educators love their edtech, but want more training - April 18, 2024
- Friday 5: College and career readiness - April 12, 2024
- Cybersecurity: eSN Innovation Roundtable - April 11, 2024
