Virtual reality brings next level learning to Battle Ground schools

Sarah Williams is bringing her love for Little House on the Prairie to life by using the Google Tilt Brush virtual reality program available for art students at Maple Grove K-8 School in Battle Ground.

“I think it’s really cool. You can see everything,” Williams said. “I’m in the art room but it feels like I’m in this open space where I can create whatever I want.”

Williams has a picture of the Prairie House she is trying to recreate. Once she puts on the VR headset, she is transported to her painting. It is all she sees. She uses the controllers in each had to draw the house, add colors and 3D effects.

“At first, it’s difficult because it’s 3D. You’re drawing something and then you take a step sideways and it’s all wonky,” Williams said. “It’s one of those things where you don’t know what you’re doing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really easy. When you figure out how to do it, and you can walk around and make sure you have everything in the right place, then afterward it looks really cool.”

It is easy for Williams to lose track of time in the virtual reality world. She can’t see the clock with that headset on.

“It’s really cool trying out all the different brushes and messing with all the colors and everything,” Williams said. “It’s just such a fun experience.”

Bringing VR to BGPS

Before she became an educational technology coordinator for Battle Ground Public Schools, Cassondra Tinsley taught art at Maple Grove. She got the opportunity to introduce Tilt Brush to her eighth-grade students last year as part of a pioneer project.

“The students get really excited about it. At this point now, they have seen some VR videos and maybe they have experienced a little bit at home or with friends,” Tinsley said. “Bringing them into the headset and kind of that first experience of this immersive environment is really cool.”

Tinsley and Scott McDaniel, director of technology services for the district, met at the same VR tech conference.

“I saw a video on Google Tilt Brush and it was so amazing, but I didn’t know where I would start it,” McDaniel said. “I needed a teacher that is really good with students, classroom management and technology.”

McDaniel found that perfect mentor in Tinsley. Together, they proposed this VR project to the district and received funds from the technology budget to purchase two Oculus Rift VR Kits. One is at Maple Grove and the other is at the district office.

McDaniel said a VR station and application bundle cost about $1,500. The next step is to purchase Oculus Go Kits that can be checked out by teachers and transported to other schools in the district.

“It was a fairly easy choice to do this because the students are very engaged in this kind of thing. I think it’s because it’s real and it’s relevant,” McDaniel said. “That student engagement piece is critical because when a kid’s engaged in something and they’re passionate about it, they’re learning far more than they would on a traditional assignment.”

Tinsley looks forward to expanding the virtual reality model for Battle Ground schools.

“People are starting to see amazing potential for using VR headsets in the classroom,” she said. “There are a lot of science and social studies integrations and simulations. You can be an astronaut on the International Space Station and you can go on a spacewalk. It’s very realistic.

“Google Earth has a great VR program where you can go anywhere. You can fly above. You can go down to street view and be there,” Tinsley said. “Google Expeditions sets up virtual field trips. Students get to go to places they never could before and experience that immersive environment without leaving the classroom.”