TOP PICKS | 19 TOOLS
Top Tech for Using Augmented and Virtual Reality
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Quiver Education - 3D Coloring App
Augmented reality app adds some interactivity and learning to coloring
Bottom line: This can make a great occasional lesson supplement, but ultimately the lack of customization and light learning hold it back.
Grades: K–5
Price: $5.99 or $7.99 Quiver Education has a one-time purchase price for all the content. There's also a volume-purchasing program and educational discounts for schools.
3DBear AR
3D design and augmented reality merge in creative, interactive app
Bottom line: A great fit for classroom or makerspace settings as long as kids have compatible devices.
Grades: K–8
Price: Free, Free to try, Paid A free version includes limited model collections. $9.99 per month lets up to 30 students access unlimited collections, lesson plans, and more. The school and district plans ($3 and $2 per student, respectively) include a teacher dashboard.
Lifeliqe
Impressive, interactive 3D models augment classroom learning
Bottom line: While some models are lower resolution and less appealing, Lifeliqe is still a no-brainer for supplying mostly clear, professional 3D models for deep investigation.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free to try, Paid Monthly subscription ($14.99) includes a one-month free trial. Annual subscription ($119.99) includes a two-month free trial. Lesson plans can be accessed with a guest account, but interactive 3D models require a subscription.
Nearpod
Interactive slideshow tool engages students, promotes collaboration
Bottom line: This effective tool leverages the capabilities of 1-to-1 environments and offers both teacher- and student-paced learning.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free, Paid The Silver edition is free for up to 30 students, the Gold edition is $120 per teacher per year for up to 50 students, and the Platinum edition is $349 per year for up to 75 students. In-app purchases are available for additional content, and schools and districts can receive volume discounts.
Expeditions
Fire up the warp drive to bring VR field trips to your classroom
Bottom line: With stunning scenes and a flexible delivery method, your students will thank you for journeying together through space and time.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free, Paid Educators can put together their own kits or purchase a recommended kit. Pricing ranges from $3,999 for 10 students to $9,999 for 30 students.
Tickle
Robots, Arduinos, and drones -- the block coding app to rule them all
Bottom line: Impressive tool for introducing block coding and robotics on a ton of devices.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free, Paid Additional characters and challenges are offered as in-app purchases.
Discovery VR
Immersive videos let students enter the magical world of VR
Bottom line: VR videos will grab the viewer's attention; just be sure to carefully select the content for your class.
Grades: 3–10
Price: Free
Froggipedia
Gorgeous frog anatomy app provides realism without depth
Bottom line: Students can closely examine a frog's anatomy and life cycle in a gorgeous, clean, and reusable way, but teachers will need to supplement the app for a complete lesson.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Paid $3.99
Google Earth VR
Explore the world with an incredible new perspective and sense of scale
Bottom line: An amazing experience that brings the world to life, despite the heavy investment in VR required.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free Requires a virtual reality headset.
JigSpace
Break down concepts in a new way with AR models
Bottom line: These 3D STEM models will certainly engage students when added to lessons, but usefulness is limited by a lack of creation options.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free
WWF Free Rivers
Gorgeous ecology AR model is simple but compelling
Bottom line: The free price tag makes this app a no-brainer for including in any lesson on water resources, though teachers will still need to provide context.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free
Arloon Geometry
Cool exploration features, so-so quizzes teach kids about shapes
Bottom line: A nice way for kids to interactively explore three-dimensional shapes, but built-in quizzes have limited impact.
Grades: 4–12
Price: $2.99
CoSpaces Edu
VR design tool sparks creativity for those with the coding chops
Bottom line: This is a well-designed VR playground for experienced coders.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Paid $75 per year for 50 licenses; other license packages available for more students.
Metaverse
Ambitious augmented-reality tool engages users, promotes coding skills
Bottom line: This dynamic tool allows users to create and experience augmented-reality activities while learning 21st-century skills.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
Arloon Anatomy | The Human Body
Explore the human body from the inside out
Bottom line: An interactive 3-D simulation that lets kids dive into the human body and learn about how it works along the way.
Grades: 5–12
Price: 2.99
ARIS
Create valuable Pokémon Go-style learning games for iOS devices
Bottom line: A teacher who is willing to learn ARIS can create robust mobile experiences that will resonate with students.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Field Trip
With a few tweaks, nifty augmented reality app can be classroom-ready
Bottom line: Field Trip isn't as searchable as Google Earth, but it's a strong local resource.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
NYT VR - New York Times
Immersive 360-degree videos take users inside the headlines
Bottom line: Though there isn't much explicit learning content, there's immense value in the extraordinary opportunity to take a walk in someone else's world.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
HoloLAB Champions
Immerse students in a fantastic VR chemistry lab
Bottom line: Students can safely experiment, play, fail, succeed, and learn in this engrossing virtual chemistry lab.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free, Paid $9.99; free for educators by filling out a form on the site.
