Students learn through virtual reality

Photo Stevens LeBlanc
In a course in ethics and religious culture, the students from the teacher Annie Turbide are virtual tours of churches using Google Cardboards, glasses 3D, which cost less than$ 10 per unit.

Daphnée Dion-Viens

Monday, September 4, 2017 00:01

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Monday, September 4, 2017 00:01

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Virtual reality is more accessible, so that students can now learn by immersing themselves in a 3D world while remaining in the classroom.

At Cardinal-Roy high school, Quebec city, the students of the teacher Annie Turbide were treated to virtual tours of churches to learn more about the religious heritage in their course of ethics and religious culture.

But rather than use the internet and Google Street View, Ms. Turbide has had a desire to innovate, with the boost of the academic advisor, Benedict Small, Network for the development of students ‘ competencies through the integration of technology (NARRATIVE).

The two acolytes have visited churches in the capital to make the capture images to create virtual tours that students can do in class, with the help of virtual reality goggles inexpensive that the plunge in a universe in three dimensions.

“It makes all the difference “

These forays into 3D transform even the “rally” since the students must then identify, by moving virtually in the church, the different elements which find themselves in the place of worship : the choir, the confessional, holy water font, etc

For Ms. Turbide, virtual reality, lets make it more interesting a topic that fascinates usually not young. “Really, it makes a difference,” she says.

Audrey-Anne, a student of first high school, confirms this. “It is more interesting than doing an exercise with a paper and a pencil, we can’t wait to come to our court because it is not like that usually,” she said.

Glasses less than $ 10 per unit

During the last school year, some teachers have begun to experiment with virtual reality in the classroom, says Benedict Small, educational consultant at Network for the development of students ‘ competencies through the integration of technologies.

With the appearance on the market of Google Cardboards, the virtual reality goggles that cost less than $ 10 per unit, technology has been democratised, ” says one who has developed a training workshop on the subject with his colleagues Sébastien Deschamps and Steve Morissette.

The latter sees it as a ” plus-value “. “We don’t need to use it to learn, but it is a small benefit that technology can bring and that can motivate the students “, said Mr. Morissette.

This educational consultant has worked with, last year, in a project of virtual tour of a secondary school in Sorel-Tracy. These are students who themselves have product photos, ball that were used to create this 3D universe.