Virtual Reality App and Game Review

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Virtual Reality App and Game Review

by KayTee

Feb 5, 2017

I had the opportunity to review a Virtual Reality app and game this weekend and evaluate their application in the classroom. Here is a summary of my review:

The VR app that was reviewed was titled, “Titans of Space-A Tour Around the Universe”. It is an eleven minute, eleven second app that takes students on a virtual tour around the Solar System to see the positioning and size of the planets in relation to other planets and stars. This app was developed for the Oculus Rift and other devices such as Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard. Overall, I thought the development and presentation of the planets were very well done, as the planets were 3D, very realistic looking, and placed in a lifelike environment. Definitely, excellent graphics! However, in not having a science background and knowing much about planet size and positioning, I was very interested in reading the text on the screen to know what I was looking at and why. Unfortunately, the screen shifted and turned in ...See MoreI had the opportunity to review a Virtual Reality app and game this weekend and evaluate their application in the classroom. Here is a summary of my review:

The VR app that was reviewed was titled, “Titans of Space-A Tour Around the Universe”. It is an eleven minute, eleven second app that takes students on a virtual tour around the Solar System to see the positioning and size of the planets in relation to other planets and stars. This app was developed for the Oculus Rift and other devices such as Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard. Overall, I thought the development and presentation of the planets were very well done, as the planets were 3D, very realistic looking, and placed in a lifelike environment. Definitely, excellent graphics! However, in not having a science background and knowing much about planet size and positioning, I was very interested in reading the text on the screen to know what I was looking at and why. Unfortunately, the screen shifted and turned in a very quick manner. Therefore, I was not able to read the screen and lost focus on what I should be doing. I ended up focusing on the physical features of the planets, which is really what the app wanted me to do anyway. There was a lot of shifting and turning on the screens which caused some slight issues with motions - similar to a Prezi feel. I’m not sure if it felt this way because I did not have on the proper eyewear to get the full experience of the product. Overall, “Titans of Space-A Tour Around the Universe” is a great app to use in science for those who are studying the Solar System. I suggest using it as a supplementary piece after students have become familiar with the planets. That way when they engage in the virtual experience, they will have the vocabulary and background knowledge to communicate their new knowledge and experiences with the planets.

Second Life is an online virtual world that uses avatars. There is a free experience and a paid experience. Through the free experience, the user can customize their avatar and access “thousands of 3D places and events”. The first stop for a newbie is on Learning Island where your avatar looks around and learns how to move. It took some time for me to get this down. As a matter of fact, I’m still working on it. However, I do not expect that my students would have the same challenges that I am experiencing. During this first stop, I was able to hear birds chirping, as if I was really outside. I was not able to make out the location, but it appeared to be somewhere in Rome. The next stop (which I did not get too) is Social Island where your avatar gets to socially connect with others. My short experience of this virtual tour did not give me enough time to understand the benefits of educational use, so I read a few reviews and was able to come up with this basic summary. Second Life allows users to visit other countries without having to leave the classroom. In visiting other countries, users benefit from learning about other cultures, communicating and collaborating with others, and problem solving. Users are also able to create and share content within the game platform. Based upon my experience and readings, Second Life could benefit several subject areas in school. For example, the English teacher could use “Second Life” to supplement teaching Plot and Characterization concepts. Students can create their unique characters with personalities through customization and develop a plot through creating scenarios. This interactive experience would bring to life the skills and concepts that students are working on in class, yet through a more lifelike experience. Learners are at the helm of their learning here, because they get to do the creating and decision making. I would recommend giving it a try in an English or Social Science/History class first and tie it the concepts and skills that are being taught in class.

Both the app and the game were reviewed and experienced in a brief manner. It would take me experiencing them in more depth before using in my class. Please make sure to check them out first before engaging your students.

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