Unimersiv; An Excellent Virtual Reality Tool for Education.
- DeAnne Anderson
- Nov 11, 2021
- 2 min read
Thinking about virtual reality has still seemed pretty gimmicky to me, and definitely something I associate with gaming only. This week I read about incorporating VR into the classroom in educational ways that I had never considered before. I am now realizing the educational value VR can have, and I am imagining all the ways I can hopefully use it with future students of mine.
One specific tool I came across was a platform called Unimersiv:
Considering my previous views about VR being mostly for gaming, I was immediately drawn into their website when I read their opening line:
“At Unimersiv, we believe that Virtual Reality should not only be used for gaming purposes but that it can have a greater impact in our lives.”
I’ve just never been much of a gamer, so the thought that VR could have a “greater impact on our lives,” made me want to keep reading. The next line I saw on their site said,
“Unimersiv is the largest platform for VR educational experiences. By downloading our app, you will have access to multiple experiences that will let you learn about history, space or the human anatomy.”
Now this statement drew me in further, because when I thought about using VR to learn about space or the human anatomy…I immediately thought of The Magic School Bus series that my generation grew up on! Here is a quick video that shares some of Unimersiv’s virtual reality experience on the human brain. Watch this video and tell me that it doesn’t remind you of a modern-day Magic School bus experience!
Obviously this could be great for science curriculum, but there are also several great videos that would be helpful for social studies teachers. For an example, they have ones one exploring Rome, or the Titanic.
One idea that I think would work great would be for students to journal about what they imagine the Titanic would be like, before using the virtual reality platform. Then, after exploring the Titanic through virtual reality, they could write about the differences in what they expected, versus what they saw. Another way to do this would be to utilize a Know, Want to Know, Learned Chart. What do the students already know about the Titanic, want to know, and then what did they learn after the VR experience.
If you want to try Unimersiv, you can use it on a headset like the Oculus or Samsung Gear VR. The app is available for free on the Rift, Gear VR, Daydream and Cardboard on Android, by going to the app store. It is free to download and has many free options available, but you can also pay for premium. Here is a great review I watched that shows a lot about what they have to offer:
I hope you found this to be as exciting as I did and feel inspired to try it out with your classroom!
References
Unimersiv. (2019). Unimersiv. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://unimersiv.com/
Daydream District. (2017, May 29). An immersive University in VR! Check our Unimersiv for Daydream VR - Hands-on review. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/5ATwm_RHhvU
DeAnne,
I agree with your first thoughts on VR. I too associated VR with gaming and in no way tied it in with learning in the classroom. My thoughts have now changed as a result of this week's readings, including your post. I really liked the Titanic activity you suggested. That would be really cool to do and I could really see how VR would come in handy. Thanks again for sharing.
DeAnne,
I am with you on your original assumption that VR was not something I had considered seriously as an instructional tool. I had the assumption that it was either "gamey" as you put it or too techy for me (someone who does not consider themselves a particularly techy person). So, like you, I was pleasantly surprised, as well, when I began exploring VR resources and found how engaging, educational, and user-friendly most of them were. I also like that you found a resource that could be used across several content areas, such as science and social studies. Many of the VR tools are tailored heavily towards STEM, so it is nice when there are tools that can be cross-categorical.…
DeAnne,
I agree with your thoughts initially about VR. As I have explored the readings and other blog posts the information is clear that there are a variety of ways that this technology can be used when teaching students. The possibilities are unlimited. The short video you shared did remind me of the Magic School Bus. Thank you for sharing this tool. The examples and tutorials you shared are helpful.
DeAnne,
Thank you for sharing this VR tool! I work in an elementary library and had a hard time wrapping my head around applications for VR in our school. However, your comparison of VR to a modern Magic School Bus immediately had me dreaming. I think there is a place for virtual reality applications if I have the commitment and foresight to think outside the box and make it interesting and meaningful for students. Thank you for sharing so much information about Unimersiv. I will certainly be looking into it further!
~Josie Price
Greetings DeAnne! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on VR and the Unimersiv platform (I’ll never NOT read this as UN-Immersive which seems like an...oversight...maybe). I share your initial feeling that VR can sometimes seem gimmicky and (like you) I really like Unimersiv’s educational mission. I found the application of VR in vocational training particularly interesting. The forklift training video on Unimersiv’s YouTube page suggested an application I hadn’t considered previously and one that might be the future of this technology. I think your Magic School Bus comparison is a good one and I’m hopeful that VR achieves some of that potential. Also -- If I was able to virtually visit and explore the Titanic in 1988 I would likely b…