Tutorial for distance on-line learning (by EDUMOTIVA)

3.14. Nearpod

Virtual reality (VR), Augmented reality (AR), Mixed reality (MR) and Extended reality (XR) can by deployed in education either face-to-face or distance giving a unique experience to students and teachers. Given that the biggest challenge for teachers in distance learning, even in higher education, is to increase students’ engagement level, these emerging technologies can work towards this path.

A user experience VR when feeling immersed to a fully digital simulated environment which is projected through a VR headset. On the contrary, in AR real world and virtual world are combined where real objects could be handled like digital ones via AR glasses or smartphones’ applications. In MR, both real and digital world co-exist and they can interact one with the other. Finally, XR reality is a term used when VR, AR and MR are blended as well as for the new technologies that are coming.

By deploying XR in class, even if it is in distance, teacher makes class more attractive and students more active as such a technology demands students’ engagement. The planning of the XR activity in a learning environment is teacher’s main role. Drawback for adopting XR in class can be considered the cost for corresponding equipment and the lack of tools and platforms where XR can be exploited. Google Expeditions (https://artsandculture.google.com/project/expeditions) and Nearpod (https://nearpod.com/) are the two most popular platforms. Although Google Expeditions does not have relevant material to programming or electronic, hopefully in the future will have.