Keywords: VR, virtual reality, Virtual Reality, VR Tubs, VR Kits 

Aliases: occulus, Occulus 

VR Help Document, Google Expedition Steps, and More  <= click there for the updated document 

VR/AR Kit Guide for Peninsula School District

What's the Difference Between VR, AR, and MR?

Virtual Reality (VR) implies a complete immersion experience that shuts out some or all of the physical world. Using VR devices, users can be transported into a number of real-world and imagined environments such as the middle of a squawking penguin colony or even the back of a dragon.

Augmented Reality (AR) adds digital elements to a live view often by using the camera on a smartphone. Examples of augmented reality experiences include Snapchat lenses and the game Pokemon Go. 

In a Mixed Reality (MR) experience, which combines elements of both AR and VR, real-world and digital objects interact. Mixed reality technology is just now starting to take off with Microsoft’s HoloLens one of the most notable early mixed reality apparatuses.

https://www.fi.edu/difference-between-ar-vr-and-mr 

Expeditions Pro (previously known as Google Expeditions)

Some staff in our district have previously had the pleasure of using an app for iOS called Google Expeditions. Sadly that program shutdown in June of 2021. Here’s the good news: about six months later a company called Singleton Technology Limited “adopted” the app, renamed it Expeditions Pro and relaunched it. 

Basically, the teacher can run the “hosting” tours from his/her iPad while students with VR headsets on, can join the tour and be lead by the hosting teacher. The app provides factual information to read out loud to the students (and some of the tours will have audio files that automatically read the information out loud for you). As the students follow along, the teacher can tell if the students are all in the right spot by counting the smileyfaces that show up in any given scene. 

Here are the steps to begin working with this app:

1. Load ExpeditionsPro from Self Service on you district staff iPad. Call x3711 if you don’t know how to use Self Service. If you don’t already have a staff iPad, here is the request form: https://psd401.freshservice.com/support/catalog/items/59. Custodians of district staff iPads have to take a six hour online course in order to maintain custodianship of the iPad. You can use a cell phone to run ExpeditionsPro and lead a tour; however, there are two problems. First, your cell would be on the Open PSD network - whereas the students' headsets connect to the Closed PSD network. So, that won’t work. Also, you have a lot less “real estate” to see everything on/in the tours. 

2. Get to know ExpeditionsPro a little. Here’s a short (5:23) video that will help: https://youtu.be/klm4t9eZd6w. 

3. Find some tours that would be appropriate for your students/grade levels/content and download them in the app. Review those tours completely to make sure it’s the perfect content for your academic purposes and to decides what elements of the tour to use (and what parts not desired). 

4. Reserve either Elementary Kits or Secondary Kits. See page 6 below. 

 

ouTube 360৹ Tours: 

YouTube is housing more and more VR videos. Use the words “360 tour” or “VR” to find them. Once a student has a video loaded on their cell phone ready to put in the VR headset, have them go to the 3-dots-more button. 

Have them pick “View in Cardboard” or “View in VR Viewer”. 

Note: if there is a commercial that plays first, have the students wait until after it plays before clicking on the 3-dots-more button.

Reserving Kits:

To reserve and use a VR Kit, please complete a ticket (Request New Service) Service Central on the Portal (https://psd401.freshservice.com/support/catalog/items/83). Simply state the date you would like the set to arrive at your building and the date you will have them ready for pick up. See sample below. Your building might also have a set (check with our media specialist/librarian).  

Available sets:

• Elem Set A = 5 headsets and devices

• Elem Set B = 5 headsets and devices

• Elem Set C = 5 headsets and devices

• Sec VR Headset Set 1 = 20 headsets only

• Sec VR Headset Set 2 = 20 headsets only
  

Sample Service Central Ticket to Reserve a VR set:

Include:

• date you would like the kits to arrive at your building

• how long you plan to use the kit

• If you would like support from a digital coach, please add questions or type of support you would like

Preparing instruction and students when using other applications or sites:

• Consider how you will use the VR or AR experience to support learning.

• Create a plan for sharing the link or site with students

  • QR Codes should be made for students to access sites/VR experiences.

  • Print the QR Codes so that students can scan them with the camera app on the iPod Touches or with their cell phones.

  • An additional option, for classrooms where students use their own cell phones, is to put URL links into Schoology for students to access that way with their phones.  

• Communicating with parents and families is important to keep them informed and connected to the digital lives of students.  We recommend you make a copy of this letter to personalize and communicate the learning goals associated with your use of VR sites.

  • Template parent letter 

Tips About Headsets: 

• Insert the device into the headset. 

• Line up the vertical line on the screen with the raised line on the headset and close the cover.

• Students can adjust the focus with the clear sliding tabs on each lens.

Preparing iPod Touch Devices (if using the Elementary kits):

Power on each iPod Touch and ensure they are fully charged.

• iPod passcode is 3711

Safety of Students Doing VR: 

The following articles will give background and cautions for using VR/AR with students.

• https://bigthink.com/kevin-dickinson/is-virtual-reality-dangerous-for-children    May 21, 2018

• https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/what-parents-need-to-know-about-virtual-reality April 3, 2018  

• https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/pdfs/csm_vr101_final.pdf 2018 

• https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/01/11/making-virtual-reality-a-reality-in-todays-classrooms.aspx Jan 11, 2018

Troubleshooting:

Please submit issues in an ‘Incident’ ticket at Service Central addressed to Angela May or Donna Squires. And please email Angie at maya@psd401.net or Donna at squiresd@psd401.net if you have questions.Tips from teachers who have used VR headsets in their classrooms:

• It was incredibly simple.  

• The headsets fit up to a plus-size phone.  Larger cases, or ones with batteries or pop-sockets, had to come off.  

• I had the students clean the foam on the inside of the headsets with a tissue and hand sanitizer after each use.  

• I preferred having 2 students per headset because they get vertigo if they keep it on for too long.  

• It’s good to take breaks every few minutes.  I just did my narration, gave time for both students to look, then moved on to the next item of interest to narrate.  

• Definitely practice first.  I used my phone and logged in as my son to try it out.

Virtual Field Trips District Collaboration Doc:

Virtual Field Trips can create enriching, interactive experiences that cater to students of all learning styles and needs while exposing them to diverse perspectives. Additionally, they eliminate the need for transportation, decrease the loss of instructional time, reduce the need for parent permission slips, and remove safety concerns. One amazing tool to expand your classroom out into the world is Google Arts & Culture. It is a non-commercial initiative that works with cultural institutions and artists around the world. Together, their mission is to preserve and bring the world’s art and culture online so it’s accessible to anyone, anywhere.

We have started a collaborative document in PSD where teachers can add resources and feedback. Please feel free to explore &/or add to this document: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/108vxQe5dBxuZUi2tvlOM4DphZdWHvgifRWf0w9x9Nkc/edit?usp=sharing 

Link to Shared Staff Creations/Ideas: 

Add your experiences, ideas, resources, and great finds here:  VR/AR Shared Staff Creations/Ideas Slide Deck

How to Return Kit(s):

When you are done with the kit, please complete the following:

• Clean, count & record number of headsets in the set before returning.

• Note any damage or issues with items in the kit

• Label the kit for return to ESC/DLI Office and place in the PONY pick-up location in your building

• Go to TICKETS in Service Central to communicate the date you returned the kit in the PONY so DLI staff can confirm the return and close the ticket.