Review of VR apps for the Classroom

I spent some time this week exploring VR applications for the classroom. It took me a good couple of hours to get things started. I have two VR headsets that I am using, a Sytros VR headset and a View-Master deluxe. Each has strengths and weaknesses. If I could combine the strengths of both into one headset, i'd have a great tool with customizable pupilary distance and buttons that work. As it is, I have one that I can see through clearly and the other with working buttons.

This week was labor day weekend and I raced to North Carolina and back for a wedding. This included air travel and a two hour shuttle ride. I thought I was handling my motion sickness pretty well. (Better than the lady who ran down the plane aisle with her hand over her mouth only to have the flight staff announce shortly thereafter that the back bathroom was now out of commission). I didn't get back into town until 3 am, but because I am hardcore, I was in my office work by 7:30 am.)

I loved that I tried out the VR applications in my office because I have a spinny chair and I was able to spin around to enjoy the 360 degree view. I may have enjoyed the apps too much because when I noticed that I'd hit that exhaustion wall around 3:00, I was pretty nauseous. I'm not sure it was all from being tired. I barely made it home before I was losing cookies I didn't even know I had. Looking back on the day, I think my motion sickness was heightened from all the spinning and VRing.

Of all the apps I tried, I loved the Apollo 15 VR the most, or it had the most emotional and cognizant impact on me. I lived through the moon landings, but this brought it home at an emotional level. I worried about being on the moon - and only then realized how worried the astronauts must have been.

I also got to create a Google Expedition. It has me thinking of ways that I might be able to use this in the future. My sister Judy's cancer kicked up unexpectedly, causing her to have to submit to chemo and radiation therapies. While I am so very thankful that modern medicine can fight cancer, I know how disappointing it is for my sister to have to cancel another trip. This time it is her European trip. Wouldn't a nice Google Expedition be fun for a sisters activity night?

Here is the link for the quick Google Tour I made of a trip the kids and I took this summer to some of the sacred sites in southeastern Utah: https://poly.google.com/view/fyY_0pmm7Cc or you can link to it from your phone by scanning the QR code below.