Latest education updates from around the world
XR Industry Giants Team up to Save Key Developer Tool
Microsoft, Qualcomm and Magic Leap announced a partnership to “guide the evolution” of the Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK), a cross-platform AR/VR development framework which has now gone open-source.
MRTK was a Microsoft-driven project that provided a set of components and features used to accelerate cross-platform XR app development in the Unity game engine. The developing team behind MRTK was unfortunately disbanded, as Microsoft cut both MRTK and the AltspaceVR teams earlier this year in a wide-reaching round of layoffs.
Still, as an open-source project now, Microsoft is joining XR industry cohorts Qualcomm and Magic Leap to form their
‘Richie’s Plank’ Devs Are Creating a Spiritual Successor to ‘Astro Bot Rescue Mission’ & ‘Lucky’s Tale’
Toast Interactive, the developer behind Richie’s Plank Experience (2017), revealed working on a new VR platformer that seems to be taking more than a few cues from Sony’s beloved Astro Bot Rescue Mission (2018) and Playful’s Lucky’s Tale (2016).
Called Max Mustard, the VR platformer has been under development for three years now, with the team calling it a “modern VR platformer with moments of nostalgia, meaningful upgrades, first person interactions and game play that keeps you wanting more.”
Here’s how Toast Interactive describes the game’s setup: “You and the famous inventor, Max Mustard embark on an adventure to reunite […]
White House Hosts School Districts Large and Small at Event Unveiling New K-12 Cybersecurity Initiative
The new White House initiative aims to bolster cybersecurity in the nation’s schools
Growth Mindset Posters for Classroom
Growth mindset posters for classroom
Introducing growth mindset into the classroom has become an essential aspect of modern education. Recognizing that a student’s belief about intelligence and their ability to learn can have a profound impact on their academic performance has led educators, including myself, to seek ways to cultivate this mindset.
Growth mindset encourages students to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and see effort as the path to mastery. Posters that reinforce these ideas can be a powerful visual tool in the classroom.
I have delved into this topic before, including exploring the psychology of growth mindset […]
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Posters for Classroom
Cultural diversity and inclusion posters for classroom is the topic of our blog post today!
As a teacher, educator, and researcher with over 15 years of experience, I’ve long championed the importance of creating classrooms where every student feels welcomed and represented. The theme of cultural diversity and inclusion has been the focus of several of my previous posts, including explorations of diversity and inclusion books for kids, resources tailored specifically for teachers, and practical strategies to talk about race in class.
Emphasizing these values in a classroom setting requires more than verbal affirmations; […]
Tips and Strategies to Talk about Race in Class
Strategies to talk about race in class is the topic of our post today!
In today’s increasingly diverse and interconnected world, conversations about race, diversity, and inclusion have become essential components of education. As teachers and educators, we bear the responsibility of facilitating these critical discussions with our students.
Inspired by my recent reading of the insightful book “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo, I’ve compiled a set of strategies that align with the principles laid out in the text. I’ve also tapped into the collective wisdom of fellow teachers, educators, and […]
New ‘Hellsweeper VR’ Trailer Shows off Co-op Carnage, Cross-play Confirmed
Publisher Vertigo Games and Mixed Realms, developer behind Sairento VR (2018), revealed a new trailer for their upcoming combat VR game Hellsweeper VR that shows off more of the game’s co-op action, which thankfully is confirmed to include cross-play on Quest, SteamVR, and PSVR 2.
Hellsweeper VR is a follow-up to Sairento VR, this time letting two players join forces to descend into hell and slay twisted souls. The studios say we can expect shared combos and opportunities to execute unique co-op strategies as you take on all the evil the universe has to offer.
The studios say the game’s co-op mode offers a “full […]
What is Wakelet and How Does it Work?
Use Wakelet to get a rich mix of media accessible for the education space.
Quest 3 Unboxing Reportedly Leaked Ahead of Fall Release, Video Here
Meta’s upcoming Quest 3 headset is slated for a Fall 2023 launch, possibly even at the company’s Connect developer conference coming September 27th. It seems Meta has suffered yet another unauthorized pre-launch unboxing of their hardware, echoing the Quest Pro leak from last year.
The video in question was posted to Reddit today, and subsequently captured and reposted in full by X (formerly Twitter) user ‘VR Panda. Alex From CHN’ before it was deleted by the original Reddit poster.
Quest 3 leaked early again #metaquest #Quest3 pic.twitter.com/KfjXx5Qxi7
— VR Panda. Alex From […]
HOTS for Teachers: Best Free Resources For Higher-Order Thinking Skills
Teach higher-order thinking skills with these top free resources.
Seven Mind Mapping Tools to Try This Year
Earlier this week a reader emailed me to ask for my suggestions for online mind mapping tools for her students to use this fall. My preference is often to draw mind maps by hand and then digitize them by taking pictures with either the Google Keep or OneNote mobile apps. But that doesn’t work for everyone. So if you want to do the mind mapping process in a completely digital format, take a look at the following options.
Canva Whiteboard Templates
Canva’s whiteboard templates include mind mapping templates that you and your students can use individually or collaboratively. […]
Hands-on: ‘The 7th Guest’ Delivers Disney’s Haunted Mansion Vibes & Tons of Visual Flair
When the original The 7th Guest launched on CD-ROM in 1993, it was apparently a pretty big deal. The amount of pre-rendered 3D graphics spliced with live action video clips made it a standout title among all PC games at the time, making it and Myst basically the hottest PC games ever. Now, Vertigo Games is rebooting the interactive horror puzzler in VR alongside a fresh injection of volumetric video which was undoubtedly a highlight in our hands-on.
The 7th Guest is coming in October to all major VR headsets, however we got a chance to go hands-on with a demo […]
6 Great Periodic Table of Elements Posters
Periodic table of elements posters is the topic of our blog post today!
The Periodic Table of Elements is more than just a scientific tool; it’s a visual guide to understanding the building blocks of our universe. Serving as an essential part of science education, the Periodic Table continues to evolve, reflecting new discoveries and advancements in our understanding of atomic structures.
A key part of any science classroom, the Periodic Table is used not only by chemistry teachers but also by physics and biology educators to explain complex concepts. While the fundamental structure of the Periodic Table remains consistent, […]
Music Art Posters for Classroom
Music art posters for classroom is the topic of our blog post today!
Music and art have always played an integral role in education, fostering creativity, enhancing cognitive skills, and bringing joy to the learning environment. Classroom decorations, particularly those that reflect musical themes, can serve as visual stimulants to engage students and create an inspiring atmosphere. While some may see these posters as mere adornments, educational researchers recognize their potential to positively influence learning outcomes (Eisner, 2002; Winner & Hetland, 2007).
According to a study conducted by the Dana Arts and Cognition Consortium (2008), engaging with […]
7 Great Science Posters for Classroom
Science posters for classroom is the topic of our blog post today!
Science education is more than just textbooks and lectures; it’s about igniting curiosity, fostering a love for exploration, and building a deep understanding of the world around us. As educators, we’re always seeking innovative ways to engage students, and one proven method is the use of visual aids such as classroom posters.
From colorful illustrations of complex chemical reactions to inspiring quotes that cultivate a growth mindset, classroom posters have become an indispensable tool in the modern learning environment.
Research supports the effectiveness of visual aids in […]
‘Half-Life 2: RTX’ Remaster Could Mean Big Upgrades for ‘Half-Life 2’ VR
NVIDIA this week announced Half-Life 2: RTX, a community-made remaster of the legendary game featuring all-new assets, textures, and lighting. Pieces of the remaster are likely to make their way to the already existing Half-Life 2: VR Mod.
When it rains, it pours, as they say.
After years of delays, Half-Life and VR fans have been treated over the last 12 months to full VR mods of Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, and Half-Life 2: Episode Two.
And now it seems that fans are in for another treat; the Half-Life 2: VR Mod is likely to get a range of graphical upgrades […]
What is Buncee and How Does It Work?
Buncee can help educators by creating a space for varying forms of media to meet in one helpful spot
Fast Travel Games Teases Mysterious VR Multiplayer, Full Reveal Coming in September
Fast Travel Games teased a mysterious new multiplayer title today that the VR studio and publisher says we’re due to learn more about sometime next month.
The studio tweeted out a short teaser with a cryptic message, which reads: “The [redacted] have frozen time. I don’t know how it’s even possible. We need to work together to [redacted].”
T̸h̶e̵ ̶[̸r̷e̴d̴a̶c̷t̷e̸d̶]̸ ̶h̴a̶v̶e̴ ̴f̵r̷o̵z̶e̸n̵ ̵t̸i̴m̸e̵.̴ ̶I̵ ̵d̶o̷n̸’̵t̶ ̶k̵n̵o̶w̶ ̷h̸o̶w̷ ̵i̷t̴’̶s̶ ̶e̷v̴e̸n̵ ̸p̸o̶s̴s̷i̵b̷l̵e̴.̶ ̵W̸e̶ ̸n̸e̸e̶d̴ ̶t̷o̴ ̵w̷o̵r̸k̷ ̵t̴o̶g̷e̵t̷h̵e̴r̸ ̶t̶o̴ ̶[̴r̷e̶d̷a̷c̸t̸e̴d̷]̶.̴ pic.twitter.com/Jdn5nBfSfl
— Fast Travel Games Gamescom (@fasttravelgames) August 22, 2023
Fast Travel, which is known for developing Wraith: The Oblivion […]
Five Great Microsoft Forms Features for Teachers
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Most of the time I like Google Workspace tools better than the equivalent tools from Microsoft. There is one exception to that rule. That exception being forms. When it comes to making and publishing online forms, Microsoft Forms has more features that I like than Google Forms has. For example, there is nothing like the new live presentation mode in Microsoft Forms available in Google Forms.
There are other aspects of Microsoft Forms that I also like that aren’t equaled in Google Forms. Those features are demonstrated in my new video […]
Meta Shows Off Quest Hand-tracking Improvements, Claims “almost as responsive as controllers”
Apple is going all-in with hand-tracking for its upcoming Vision Pro, but can hand-tracking really replace proper VR controllers? Meta, Apple’s main competitor in the space, isn’t going so far as to make that particular claim, however the company says Quest’s recent hand-tracking improvements are now “almost as responsive as controllers” thanks to its recent v56 software update.
First announced in late July, the company’s Hands 2.2 tracking improvements are introducing what Meta says is better hand responsiveness and a few new experimental features that we’ll probably see in Quest 3.
Now rolling out […]
Is Generative AI The Most-Wanted Cyberbully?
Educators need to be aware of how generative AI is being used in cyberbullying
VR Attraction Sandbox VR Reeled in $23M Annual Revenue from Most Popular Experience
Sandbox VR, the location-based VR destination, announced that its most popular experience has generated $23 million in ticket sales in the last 12 months.
Launched in the summer of 2022, Deadwood Valley is said to be the company’s most cinematic game, letting players defend against a horde of zombies as a squad.
It’s been so successful, Sandbox VR says the experience has now surpassed $23 million in ticket sales across 30 locations, and is projected to make $100 million in lifetime sales.
All of the company’s multiplayer VR experiences have been developed by in-house gaming studios, allowing teams […]
‘Ghosts of Tabor’ Hits $3M Revenue Ahead of Debut on Main Quest Store
Passing Meta’s content review process for Quest games is an essential step to being listed on the Quest Store, although some studios choose to offer their games in beta via App Lab first, meaning they can take time to get things right before listing on the store proper. That’s what developer Combat Waffle Studios and publisher Beyond Frames Entertainment did with their hit multiplayer shooter Ghosts of Tabor, and it’s seemed to have paid off.
Released on App Lab back in March, Ghosts of Tabor is an extraction-based survival game that tosses in player-versus-environment (PVE) and player-versus-player (PVP) combat, all […]
Five Tutorials on Google Earth Basics
The start of the school year is when many of us are excited to try new and different things. If you’re looking for something new to try this year, take a look at my Around the World With Google Earth activity. It’s loosely based on The Amazing Race and it’s a fun way to introduce students to the basics of using Google Earth. If you need some help getting started with Google Earth, take a look at the tutorials that I have embedded below.
One of Meta’s Most Well-funded VR Games is Shuttering Multiplayer This Year
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (2020) was set to be the storied franchise’s first big push into virtual reality when it launched in late 2020, offering up some of its characteristic WWII combat missions alongside what hoped to be a robust online multiplayer. Now, less than three years since launch, EA’s Respawn Entertainment say they’re pulling the plug on multiplayer.
Arguably the best part of Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond was its online multiplayer, but that’s going to change before year’s end. The developers quietly posted this message on the game’s Quest page, appended above its original […]