WAB Learns: Virtual Reality: Home

Learning at WAB is a transformative process which is intentional and iterative, challenging and joyful, and serves an authentic purpose.

Virtual Reality, AR & XR in Learning

There is a lot of potential for Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR) to enhance learning in schools. This guide outlines some current projects at WAB, along with further readings and resources.

VR, AR & XR are developing quickly and becoming more accessible to learners. They have potential for experiential learning, empathy, creativity, design, connections across communities and much more.

Guide by Stephen for WAB. Image: Young tiger using VR headset, created with Playground AI DALL-E 2 AI art generator. More about AI.

ES Examples

VR/AR in ES is just getting started, and some examples we have tried so far include:

Using iPad apps to create characters and images that can be shown in augmented reality, placing them in 'real' environments.
Using Google Cardboard viewers to see scenes (using school iPods)
Creating 3D models in student-friendly CAD tools.

Class VR - Safe, Educational VR for Schools
WAB has a set of ClassVR headsets and teacher accounts. These are centrally controlled by the teacher's computer, to ensure safety and focus. ClassVR can be used to see virtual environments, or curriculum-aligned augmented-reality assets. We don't use this with students below Grade 4.

PYPx Students unboxing ClassVR and taking a field trip to some coral reef environments for their SDG-related inquiry into marine ecosystems.

MS & HS Examples

Our fab MS Design Team have been trying some immersive & collaborative design tools using Oculus Quest 2 and Gravity Sketch as a VR CAD environment. This gives students the opportunity to design in shared 3D space, whilst being supervised and supported by their teacher.

Students also use CAD design tools such as TinkerCad to produce designs and models that can be 3D-printed and projected into an augmented reality space, so they appear to be in real environments.

Gravity Sketch - Think in 3D, Create in 3D
Running on centrally-managed Oculus Quest 2, this tool gives students real-time 3D CAD experience.
Class VR - Safe, Educational VR for Schools
ClassVR is also available to Middle School students and includes a lot of curriculum-aligned educational content. This is currently being explored further, but click this link to see some of the potential.

MS Student learning Gravity Sketch using Oculus Quest 2.

Safety & Ethics in VR

As with all educational technologies at WAB, use of VR tools is carefully planned and managed safely.

Safe spaces and supervision
Attention to student wellbeing
Age-appropriate tools and engagement
Aligned with WAB's Acceptable Use Policy for technology

Find out more on the Learn tab above.

Some VR Tools Available at WAB

Gravity Sketch - Think in 3D, Create in 3D
Running on centrally-managed Oculus Quest 2, this tool gives students real-time 3D CAD experience.
Class VR - Safe, Educational VR for Schools
ClassVR is a leader in school-specific Virtual Reality, with a system managed from the teacher's laptop. This allows them to make content playlists and see where students are working in the space. Resources include virtual field-trips, images, environments and augmented-reality worksheets.
CoSpaces - Create Virtual Worlds For The Classroom
CoSpaces is a 3D design tool for students to create spaces, galleries, tours and much more. It includes coding modules and secure classroom management.
ThingLink - Create Virtual Tours & Interactive Spaces (link to WAB EdTech Page)
ThingLink is an award-winning education technology platform that makes it easy to augment images, videos, and virtual tours with additional information and links.
Insta360 - Create 360 Videos & Images Quickly & Easily
Very simple 360 action cameras for videos and images. Can be imported into Thinglink or used in VR.
Autodesk TinkerCAD - 3D CAD Design in your browser
If you can dream it, you can build it. From product models to printable parts, 3D design is the first step in making your ideas real.
Skybox Lab by Blockade Labs: Create VR Worlds
Generate high-quality VR scenes, download and use them in VR or 360 viewers. You can even sketch outlines to guide the creation.

Some ThingLink & Insta360 Examples

Creating a Gallery using Insta360 & Thinglink

This example gallery used:

1 x Insta360 photo for the scene
1 x photo for each asset
1 x Polycam3D scan for the 3D render example

The Project was created in a Folder in Thinglink. Each asset uploaded is treated as a 'Scene'.

For the photos: Go to Edit --> Settings --> Info Panel and add information
For the 360 Tour: Edit ---> Add Tag --> Create Tour --> Select Scene (artwork)
Music was added to the 360 Tour in Settings, but you could add anything.

WAB Campus: Architect's Drawings

Virtual Reality: Home