The coronavirus has caused students to lose half a year this 2020, because nobody was prepared to teach online during confinement. Neither the teachers nor the students. We are in summer and we still have no idea what the course will be like from September, although everyone agrees that there will be more remote classes. Video calls can be a solution, but in the medium term they become monotonous and boring. Why not a history class in virtual reality?

HistoryMaker VR is a tool that allows teachers teach history using virtual reality. The advantage of this technology is that the teacher can be embodied in any character and teach from any real or imaginary place. Much more attractive than watching a video with the teachers face for an hour

At the same time, thanks to virtual reality, students are not seeing a screen on their PC or tablet. They immerse themselves in a virtual environment related to the lesson they are learning. Why not give a class on Ancient Rome sitting on the steps of the Colosseum?

As we can see in the video, HistoryMaker VR It is a tool focused on educators. In fact it will be free for them.

The professor can reincarnate as a historical figure (for the time being, belonging to North American history) from Benjamin Franklin to the Indian chief Tecumseh or the Supreme Court judge Sonia Sotomayor, or create an avatar that looks like him.

You can choose the setting, related to the topic of the lesson, and even place objects that you will use during the class. As it is virtual reality it is possible to keep the script or the class chop at a glance, and the students will not see it.

Then record the class using the movement of your own hands and body, which are registered thanks to the movement controls and the sensors of the virtual reality glasses.

Virtual reality viewer with two touch controls that does not require the use of a mobile phone as a screen or a very powerful gaming computer to play virtual reality video games or use compatible applications.

Students can download the class and immerse themselves in the virtual reality environment, observing the teacher in real size, not in a simple video on screen.

The proposal of HistoryMaker VR It seems like a first step, a teaser, because from what we see in the video the classes are given on stage, and they are not in real time, but recorded scenes.

Strolling through the streets of Pompeii, exploring Nefertaris tomb, floating on the International Space Station, or watching a movie on a 350-inch movie screen These are some of the things you can do from your favorite chair, thanks to the magic of virtual reality.

In the future we hope to see real scenarios related to the history lesson, such as walking through the interior of the pyramids of Egypt while the teacher gives his lesson, and that this class is in real time and in group, with teachers and students interacting with each other.

But virtual reality is starting, and you have to go little by little.

HistoryMaker VR It will be released on August 13 on Steam. As we have said it will be free for educators, although anyone can buy it and experiment with the tool.

More here:

Education in the new normality: history classes in virtual reality - Checkersaga