With the development of new technologies and the growth of interest in interactive web applications and platforms, the need for the qualification of pedagogical specialists to work with these innovative tools inevitably appears.
Education and training are changing. To be effective, teachers and coaches must have knowledge and skills related to technologies for creating interactive learning content and virtual reality (VR/360°).
Provision of qualification on the iedu360.eu platform
The training of teachers and specialists from various fields of business within the framework of the iedu360.eu platform is key to the development of digital skills to benefit their work.
Iedu360.eu offers training for educators as the main goal of the training program is to develop their competencies, to give the necessary knowledge and skills to all interested parties.
Covering several modules:
1. Familiarity with interactive learning content platforms
The first module aims to introduce learners to the different interactive platforms that can be used to create learning content. The focus here is on the educational aspects of the platforms and their ability to support learning.
2. Theoretical framework for working with interactive platforms
The second module examines the theoretical framework for working with interactive platforms. Here, participants learn about the use of VR tools, the innovations, advantages and opportunities they provide.
3. Practical work and demonstrations
The third module provides an opportunity for practical work and demonstrations. Participants have the opportunity to apply their learned knowledge and create interactive learning content. This module is important as it gives participants the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice.
Virtual Reality (VR) Technologies and Devices
Virtual reality and 360° videos and panoramas provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in virtual environments and events, which seems to revive the desire to learn and learn, while at the same time making the educational process more fun and engaging. Teachers can use these technologies to enrich their lessons and learning. VR enables the creation of interactive and exciting educational environments where students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in various educational scenarios. VR applications include virtual labs, historical tours, spatial simulations, and even virtual field trips.
Virtual reality provides an opportunity for a deeper understanding of learning content and the acquisition of skills through hands-on experience that are sometimes difficult to convey in the real world.
There are numerous virtual reality (VR) technologies and devices, some of which include:
✔️ Virtual Reality Headsets
These are devices that are worn on the head and cover the user's eyes, giving them an immersive virtual experience. Some popular headsets include Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, and Oculus Quest.
✔️ Smartphones and Google Cardboard
Many people can use their smartphones with special cardboard accessories like Google Cardboard to try out complex VR apps and games.
✔️ Virtual realities in web browsers
Some web browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, offer the ability to access web-based VR content without the need for special hardware.
✔️ 360 degree cameras
These cameras capture 360-degree images and video that can be used to create your own VR content, tutorials and galleries, which can then be delivered to students and stakeholders.
✔️ Software platforms
There are various software platforms for creating and using VR content, such as Unity, Unreal Engine, A-Frame and Iedu360.eu. Iedu360.eu is an innovative platform created for educational purposes.
✔️ Accessories and controllers
Some VR systems include controllers that allow users to interact with the virtual world. These controllers can be moved and used to interact with the objects in the virtual space.
These technologies are used in various fields such as education, healthcare, entertainment industry and many others. In the educational context, they can be used to improve the learning process and the acquisition of new knowledge and skills through immersive educational scenarios.
Iedu360.eu advantages
✔️ The platform provides an easy and intuitive interface that students and teachers can understand and use without undue difficulty.
✔️ It is compatible with various devices and operating systems, so users can access the learning content from computers, tablets and smartphones.
✔️ Provides an opportunity for interactive learning. This includes embedding questions, assignments, virtual labs, and other means of active student participation.
✔️ Provides the ability to create and edit content so that teachers and content creators have the necessary tools and capabilities to create it.
✔️ The platform ensures high standards of security and protection of users' data.
✔️ The platform supports a variety of multimedia formats, including video, audio and graphics, to support diverse learning material.
✔️ Iedu360.eu is compatible with new technologies (VR and 360° videos and panoramas) and provides tools for the integration of this type of content.
✔️The creators of the platform provide training, full support and assistance for teachers and administrators to use it effectively.
✔️ ️ Iedu360.eu allows educational institutions to expand or limit the use of the platform according to their needs.
✔️ The platform provides tools to assess learning progress and collect feedback from students and teachers.
3 examples of successful educational practices involving the use of VR
History education through virtual museums
Some teachers are using VR to transform the way students learn history. By visiting virtual museums and historical sites in virtual reality, students can immerse themselves in different historical periods and events. This makes them more interested and more focused in the learning process.
Medical training and simulations
In the field of medical education, VR is used to create medical simulations. Future doctors and medical professionals can be trained on virtual patients who react in a similar way to real patients. This allows students to develop practical skills and better prepare for their future clinical practices.
Geographic learning and virtual travel
Geography and geology teachers can use VR to offer students the opportunity to "travel" the world and explore different places and geographies. This teaching method makes geography more lively and engaging while expanding students' geographical knowledge.
Advantages and disadvantages of VR
As we have shared, virtual reality (VR) provides many advantages such as: unique opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the learning topic, a more fun, engaging and motivating way to learn, easier understanding of abstract or complex concepts such as science and mathematics, through visual and spatial representations.
On the other hand, the use of VR technologies requires specific hardware and software infrastructure, which can be an expensive and difficult mission for some schools.
In addition, VR may raise some social and ethical questions, especially regarding the safety and privacy of students. During the VR learning process, students are exposed to different types of virtual environments and learning scenarios. This includes collecting personal data such as movements, reactions, or even biometric data such as facial prints or vocal recordings. The storage and processing of such data requires strict security measures and compliance with data protection legislation such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union.
Another issue is related to the huge need for teachers and educators to be trained and prepared to use VR in education, which takes time and resources. It is these needs that our teacher training courses cover.
Training for teachers and creators of educational content
Online learning and tutorials
We provide teachers and educators with access to online learning resources and tutorials that explain the basics of using VR in education. This method is convenient because the participants learn at their own pace and at their own time.
Exchange of experience and good practices
We are creating a community where teachers and educators share their experiences using VR. This kind of exchange of ideas and knowledge is very useful and does not require additional financial resources.
Cooperation with students
We involve students in the teacher training process. Many students are familiar with technological innovations and are valuable teaching aids for teachers and educators.
Learning through play
We use educational games and simulations that practically demonstrate how VR works. This approach is a fun and creative way to develop digital competencies in teachers.
Learning resources from VR technology providers
Many VR technology creators provide training resources and materials. We research these resources and help you take advantage of them.
Pilot projects and research works
We assist you in undertaking pilot projects or research works with your students where you as teachers have the opportunity to try out VR technology in a project-based learning environment and gain experience.
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