VR and AR

This year, we are in the process of exploring all the options above and ordering VR solutions for Highland Community College, Eastern Illinois University Colleges and Waubonsee Community College which are all in IDLL.

Let me know what you are interested in and we can work on getting it for you.


-Michael Matos, michael@chicagocitywideliteracy.org


While VR is changing quickly, the resources below are a good starting point:

360cities: Where do your students want to go? Just type in Rome, Tokyo, London and tour anyplace in the world with a 360-degree view. Free.

4D Anatomy: Subscription-based app allows students to explore human anatomy.

AugThat: Features a large content-based augmented virtual reality library.

ARize: Lets you link directly to a website.

CoSpaces Edu: Tools and resources that allow students to create in 3D, learn to code and connect with curriculum on a new level.

Curioscope: This innovative platform has one person wear a T-shirt while the other uses a smartphone to launch the app and learn about the human body in a whole new way.

Discovery VR: Discovery has added a VR app that allows you to experience your favorite Discovery programs, such as Deadliest Catch or Mythbusters in VR.

EON Reality: Students and teachers can create a blended-learning environment that allows creators to combine 3D with PowerPoint, notes, sound effects and more.

Immersive VR Education: Free education platform allows teachers to create their own lesson plans and immersive experiences.

ISTE Librarian’s Network Webinar: Elissa Malespina, author of Augmented Reality in Education: Bringing Interactivity to Libraries and Classrooms has created a webinar about using AR and VR in the classroom.

Google Cardboard: Inexpensive headset that sells for under $10 and works with smartphone VR apps.


In IDLL these organizations and participants have used VR (cheap options or not):

  • Elgin Community College - Writing with VR headsets and hand controls - Visiting historical sites throughout the world and writing about it. Their first writing was just the experience of using VR. Very successful with their students and the report out. They used the Samsung VR with controllers, powered by Oculus

  • Highland Community College - Using VR headsets and controllers to study core subjects within an online curriculum. They had some success with this and are continuing it this year with an upgraded curriculum. The curriculum is excellent and I really like the Math and Science that you can use with VR. They worked with 4 sets of goggles and hand control through the ClassVR and their curriculum.

  • Bloomington Public Schools, Adult Education - They used Affordable tools like cardboard VR viewers and apps like ARize and Arloopa are making virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) a practical classroom tool. They also used Arloopa to help design and deliver the experience.