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VR in Schools Transport K-12 Students Through Space and Time

As virtual reality grows in popularity, students enjoy realistic simulations akin to in-person field trips to distant landmarks and cultures.

Taashi Rowe

Taashi Rowe is the managing editor for EdTech: Focus on K-12 magazine.

Field trips have long been an interactive complement to classroom learning, providing students with new and interesting learning experiences beyond school walls. However, the past two years of COVID-19 closures and precautions forced schools to pivot, and virtual field trips began to gain ground.

Now that students are back to in-person learning, it doesn’t appear that virtual excursions are going away. In 2021, the American Alliance of Museums surveyed teachers who participated in virtual field trips, and 95 percent indicated they were interested in continuing the programs, even after in-person learning resumed.

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Meanwhile, more K–12 schools are bringing VR headsets into the classroom, making shorter, more frequent virtual field trips even more accessible.

We scoured Twitter for some interesting virtual field trip examples to share:

Our 5th Graders took a trip to The Golden Gate Bridge in the Metaverse! Take a look at their 3-D drawings of this historic bridge. In VR, the opportunities to learn are endless!

Ready to elevate your child’s education? https://t.co/s22zqFiDPe #VR #GoldenGate #SF #Florida #Art pic.twitter.com/GHVkCLkTPY

— Optima Classical Academy (@OptimaClassical) September 8, 2022

Optima Classical Academy is a virtual reality charter school in Naples, Fla.

Board members traveled to outer space, Redwood National Park & the bottom of the ocean last night thru 2 CCSD21 VR programs. The technology simulates real life environments & is used in all three of our middle schools to explore the world in a safe and controlled way. #21Learns pic.twitter.com/4bDdQyrKTl

— CCSD21 (@ccsd21) November 11, 2022

Community Consolidated School District 21 is a school district in suburban Chicago serving students in grades pre-K to 8.

Our Year 11 @Alleyns_Geog pupils visited Mexico City this morning through the power of VR! #AlleynsCuriosity @_JaneLunnon pic.twitter.com/BXcIf4X4Ns

— Alleyn's School (@AlleynsSchool) November 14, 2022

Alleyn’s School is a school for boys and girls aged 11-18 in London, England.

Medieval Day at Batesville Intermediate School. From VR tours of famous castles, joust on horseback, and peasants herding sheep. These 4th Graders got to time warp to Medieval 🏰 times! pic.twitter.com/F3N6omUT1Q

— Paul Ketcham (@KetchamPaul) October 6, 2022

Paul Ketcham is superintendent of the Batesville Community School Corp. in Indiana.

KEEP READING: Here's how schools are using the metaverse for K–12 education.

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