Overview:
Class VR bills itself as a safe VR learning experience for children and teens of all ages, and they give you several options when it comes to using their platform. One of the most important aspects of it is that you can use your own hardware or have it provided by the company. That also means that students have the option of using their own headsets or getting them from their school. It gives educators lots of wiggle room when it comes to their budgets, and families aren’t left with major bills to cover just to get their children to class. It’s recommended by Teaching & learning, and was the top 2022 winner of the Top Ed Tech Products award.
Virtual Classrooms
The main product offered by the company is the virtual classroom where teachers and students can come together to attend their normal class schedules without the need to leave the home. That gives it potential to make school life easier for sick and handicapped children who would otherwise have difficulty in getting to their school buildings. It also makes it possible for teachers to stand in front of their students and teach their lessons, no matter where they are in the world. While at-home classes grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking them into the virtual world is the next natural evolution.
Class Trips
Teaching and attending classes from the home aren’t the only ways to take advantage of this technology. It can also be used by entire classrooms to take field tripes without leaving the safety of the school building. Headsets can be provided to students with virtual tours of any location across the globe, from museums to historic spots with 360° viewing. It’s a hands-on experience that can add excitement to classroom exercises and get students more interested in the topics they’re studying. It also keeps them safe and in one place while they investigate the rest of the world.
Desktop Accessibility
If VR headsets are too much for a classroom to deal with, the platform is also accessible on desktop computers. This version allows students to access the same 360° views with a mouse and keyboard, eliminating the need for hardware that has to be stored and maintained throughout the schoolyear. The students get the same lessons and the same level of detail on the computer with plenty of information to absorb while they go through the same areas. It also makes it easier for them to complete studies at home without the need to take home their VR headsets.
Hardware from Class VR
Class VR offers its own line of VR headsets, and they make sure the teachers have safe and secure ways of storing it in the classroom. Headsets have ruggedized and portable storage they can use to keep the headsets safe when they’re not in use. They also get charging accessories and 30 headsets with the capability to charge them all at the same time. It’s a convenient way to keep them locked away and safe between classes and during breaks so the equipment is always there and ready to go once class begins.
AR and VR
Class VR also offers both AR and VR experiences for students. That means it can fit into any curriculum and have information ready to go, no matter how the teacher chooses to give it to the class. With AR classes, students will see the real world with digital information laid over it. The VR classes can take them anywhere the teacher wants to go, and no permission slips are ever necessary for it. The headsets are comfortable to wear and light enough for full mobility, no matter the age of the students or their levels of ability.
Vocational Courses
The company also offers headsets and training for older students who are 18 and over and in need of vocational training that gives them a real sense of what’s in store for them. Teachers and tutors can take these students through images and videos that show them what a real workplace is like and how to navigate it once they arrive. It gives them a level of situational awareness that no student would be able to get without the assistance of VR and AR. It can also be used to give them scenarios involving road accidents and safety for a real understanding of how to handle themselves in real world situations.
Case Studies
Case studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of Class VR all around the world and school systems are happy with what it offers their students. It should be noted that teachers will have to get their schools involved before they check out all the benefits of the system. That means convincing them that it’s a worthwhile investment before they get to see what it’s all about. This can be a challenge for individual teachers, but worth it in the end, if the school system is convinced.
Pros:
- Book a demonstration to see how it works
- Mix of VR and AR content
- All grades from kindergarten through 12 supported
Cons:
- Can’t fully test without school account
- Some error messages and failures
- Slow customer service
FEATURES
- Use any VR device to access the platform
- Desktop access available without devices
- Front of classroom education
- Classes for all grades
RATING:
VR Visuals: *** 3/5
Immersion: **** 4/5
Availability: *** 3/5
Education: **** 4/5
Overall: *** 3.5/5
Final Thoughts
Class VR is the next evolution of at-home learning, and it takes it all to the next level. It’s also extremely beneficial to the classroom when all students can go on a field trip without leaving the safety of the classroom. There are options for educators who want to access the platform with or without the hardware that the company offers. They utilize both VR and AR for an experience that teaches students in different ways. It can also be used for vocational training for older students, so its potential is limitless, as long as the school system can be brought onboard with the cost.