Virtual Reality

I spoke today with my high school principal to sort out details regarding the Virtual Reality 2 class.  This past spring, our school introduced a new science elective course entitled "Virtual Reality."  This course was a STEM initiative introduced by the Superintendent.  This course is loosely based on a CTE elective called Scientific Visualization.  I trained last summer in Greensboro for this course.  However, our system opted to go in a different direction and construct a course that is different and involves industry standard software.  We are the beneficiaries of a substantial grant from the Robertson Foundation.  This grant helped to set up a state of the art computer lab equipped with cutting edge iMacs and software.  The keystone software is Maxon Cinema 4-D.  This software, while challenging, is capable of producing high level graphics and animations that are second to none.

Toward the end of school, I met with the Superintendent and Director of Technology to discuss expanding the program to a Virtual Reality 2.  We opted to design a new course entitled "Video Game, Art, and Design" that would expand from the skills learned in Virtual Reality 1.  I was happy that my meeting with the principal was productive and we will be offering Virtual Reality 2 during the spring of 2013 semester.

The Third Week of the Academy

It's Monday and the beginning of our third week of the academy.  The students are off to a great start with Google Sketchup.  I am always amazed at how quickly they learn the program and run with it.  I have them watch an introductory tutorial video and they construct a house.  Their creativity amazes me.  I can only imagine how spectacular their designs will be by the end of this week.

My Beginning

This summer has been action packed.  I have attended an AP Environmental Science institute in Asheville.  Currently I am teaching at our middle school summer program for the Math and Science Academy at Salisbury High.  In this program, I am teaching a soft introduction to my Virtual Reality course.  We are focusing on learning to use Google Sketchup with rising 7th and 8th graders.  So far, I taught two classes and the students have responded wonderfully.  I have been impressed with their creativity and problem solving skills.  Many of the students have downloaded Google Sketchup on their home computers to continue their forage into 3-dimsenional design.  I look forward to continuing to teach aspects of Google Sketchup to my final two groups.

I just finished reading What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy by James Paul Gee last night.  I really enjoyed reading this book.  I was intrigued by Gee's ideas about why students so actively engage in playing video games.  Additionally Gee drew strong parallels between the importance of game design and how its role in the learning process.  I liked how he encourages educators to explore this idea and consider its possible use in the classroom.  I am following up on this book by reading How Computers Games Help Children Learn by David Williamson Shaffer.  I hope to reference my reading of Shaffer's book in my blog periodically.

I also recommend the following books that I read this year:

• Finnish Lessons:  What Can the World Learn From Educational Change in Finland by Pasi Sahlberg.  In this book, Sahlberg documents how Finaland made a bold change to reform its educational system.  They focused on meeting the needs of meeting all students by providing quality training for all teachers, especially in special education.  Additionally, education is considered to be a very well respected profession and very competitive.  Finnish students take minimal standardized tests unlike the United States.
• The Flat World and Education:  How America's Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future by Linda Darling-Hammond. 
• Education Nation by Milton Chen

I hope to update my blog a few times per month.  You can follow me on twitter at scibri.