Augmented reality and virtual reality continue to gain importance

While the acronym ai continued to take center stage on the convention floor this summer in Denver, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies continue to evolve as a practical application in the classroom as well. I was very pleased to have my annual conversation about the state of VR with Chris Klein, vice president of education at Avantis Educationwhich speaks openly about the possibilities and drawbacks of these tools. Listen:

Avantis is the creator of ClassVR, an all-in-one virtual and augmented reality headset and content platform designed specifically for K-12 classrooms. It is used by over 2 million students in 200,000 classrooms across 90 countries and includes all the hardware, software, tools, training, support, and implementation services needed to implement virtual and augmented reality in the classroom. It also provides access to the Eduverse platform, ClassVR’s content library that gives educators access to hundreds of thousands of pieces of virtual and augmented reality content and resources to enhance lessons and engage students more deeply in their learning.

Key findings:

1. Evolution of AR and VR: From novelty to educational tool, AR and VR continue to integrate into mainstream education, improving engagement and learning outcomes.
2. Educational Integration: AR and VR serve as complements to traditional teaching methods, enriching lessons without disrupting established curricula.
3. Future hardware development: Avantis is showcasing a prototype of a device at ISTI, signaling a commitment to hardware evolution that closely aligns with educational needs and feedback from educators.
4. Industry Standards: The arrival of major players such as Apple and Meta in the AR and VR space is expected to set industry standards and improve interoperability between platforms, benefiting both educators and students.

New this year, ClassVR launches Eduverse360, an expanded library of over 300,000 360° images and videos from around the world that allow teachers to take students on engaging, immersive field trips without leaving the classroom. In response to the growing demand for curriculum-aligned content across all subjects, new math resources are also being designed to make learning relevant, accessible, and fun. Popular English resources have been expanded to support K-2 English language instruction and English as an Additional Language. While in Biology, students can shrink to the size of an insect to see pollination in action like never before.

Avantis also introduced software enhancements designed to improve the user experience. These updates include:

• A redesigned homepage featuring curated playlists and topic-based navigation for easier navigation.
• ClassVR teacher and student notes can now be viewed in a sidebar alongside VR content, enhancing the educational experience.
• Instructors will also benefit from the dynamic preview of 3D models, allowing them to quickly assess and view models with just a few clicks.
• Improvements to user and content management, including streamlined admin playlist management and updates to admin controls.
• New professional development options. Beginning July 1, 2024, all customers will have free access to Avantis online continuing professional development (CPD) training materials to assist with self-paced instruction on how to use ClassVR. New customers also have expanded options for training packages.

Kevin is a forward-thinking media executive with more than 25 years of experience building brands and audiences online, in print and in-person. He is an acclaimed writer, editor and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially education technology. Kevin can be reached at [email protected]

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