AR and VR - what is all the fuss about?

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the Google Apps for Education (GAFE - now better known as GSuite) Summit in Cape Town. It consisted of 2 days packed full of learning, with keynotes, presentations and sessions led by both local and international Educational Technology experts. We had Jay Atwood (@jayatwood) and Rafranz Davis (@RafranzDavis) from the States, as well as many local teachers aiming to enhance the use of technology in schools by sharing some of what they do.

One of the sessions that I was particularly keen to attend, was led by Karen Walstra (@KarenWalstra) and touched on the use of AR and VR to enhance the learning in the classroom. Despite working in a secondary school, it struck me that these two technologies could possibly be used very effectively in primary school with how some of the apps available could really bring the learning to life.

What you need to make the most of these apps is a smartphone or tablet (for AR) and an Android smartphone and some VR glasses for the virtual reality apps. These glasses can be had fairly cheaply if you opt for something like the Google Cardboard and you could probably get it even cheaper if you shop around or buy in bulk.

Keep reading below to discover how some of these amazing apps could liven up your classroom. 

Are we getting the most out of Edutech conferences?

Ted Talks. Technology Conferences. Google Apps events. Microsoft Educator training sessions. Apple Classroom introductions. It seems teachers have a plethora of options available to them when it comes to developing their tech knowledge. But what makes a good training session or a great conference?

I pose a few questions that may help to guide your thinking when it comes to solving this conundrum.