VIRTUAL TOOLS: CHILDREN
DEFINITION
Virtual reality technologies are
used to create a 3D environment
which users experience through sensory
perception, physical movement, and text or
speech communication
EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS
VR can be used to provide
experiential learning opportunities
using the situated and active
learning strategies
Offers new opportunities to increase the
range of hands-on activities that can be
provided in classrooms to teach academic
concepts and social and communication
skills
Opportunities to observe and interact with
subjects that are not easily accessible to
them in reality (ex: scientific concepts or
geographic environments)
LEARNER’S EXPERIENCE
° - Initially feelings of frustration and
difficulty
- Then, feelings of enjoyment
from engaging in explorations
- Attracting learner’s attention
- Experience a true form of
discovery and problem solving
- Avatars have to play around
with many features (figuring out
how to…)
- The visuals are very realistic,
allows for realistic experiences
- Avatar is encouraged to use trial
and error and seek assistance
from experienced avatars
WITH DISABILITIES
• ACADEMIC CONCEPTS
- Mathsigner: mathematical concepts
- Vcom3D: Mathematical and science
concepts
- Second Life
• SOCIAL SKILLS
Designed to assist students with
disabilities (especially those who have
autism spectrum disorders) in
acquiring/practicing social skills
The Transporter: to teach facial
awareness skills
FaceSay: promotes eye gaze, facial
expressions, and emotions
Second Life: construct age appropriate
social scenarios
• COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Assist students with disabilities to
learn more effective communication
skills
Signing avatars: sign language for
individuals with hearing impairments
SMILE: math and science concepts
through interactions with signing
avatars
Science-related Experiences: Using
Second Life
• 3D dinosaur models
• A spaceflight museum overlooking
planet earth
•
•
Habitats
Weather maps
• Rockets
• Animals
• Conducting experiments in
laboratories
• Using microscopes
Understanding Math Through Virtual
Reality
• Students who struggle with special
imagination: Immersion in virtual
reality can improve abilities
• Helps understanding of abstract
concepts by making those concepts
more concrete
o Volume is one such concept
o Easier to visualize 3D
shapes of different colors
o Students can pick up, throw,
stack or rotate any the
objects in the scene
• Manipulating blocks in virtual
environment supported
understanding
o Could be manipulated in
ways to “real” ones could
not
• Virtual reality can be used to teach
skills of distance measuring,
directionality and map skills
VIRTUAL REALITY:
LANGUAGE EDUCATION
Mentira: Spanish-language place-based
game
o Learners required to go out into the
VIRTUAL
local (Spanish speaking) community
to obtain information
REALITY IN THE
Tilt Brush
o Engaging, authentic interactions,
proved motivating to the students ELEMENTARY
o Showed considerable promise for
further implementation CLASSROOM
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Virtual reality Headset:
o Students can take advantage of 360-
degree online presentation to Speech Trainer
practice giving presentations in front
of an actual audience
o Familiarizing students with a topic
and providing them with vocabulary
in context
Mindshow:
o Students can create environments
and then use language to engage in
role-taking within these environments
NeoTrie VR

By: Yasmine Chtourou, Soumiya

Thiyagarajah, Brittanie Romito &
Ashley Asuncion