A new method of exploration
Instead of using virtual reality headsets, this experience utilizes handheld tablets that serve as windows into the virtual space.
“When you’re wearing virtual reality goggles, you can’t engage directly with anyone else in the space with you. You can’t see them. You can’t talk directly to them in an easy or natural way. We wanted learners to be able to use normal social interaction as part of the learning experience,” Ogle said.
The virtual environment consists of a 30-by-30-foot space with four devices that track the location and orientation of tablet computers used by the students. Within this virtual environment, young learners can explore the solar system in pairs or solo, interacting with the content, the teacher, and one another while doing so.
Addressing misconceptions about space
The program’s developers created an immersive…
