Buncombe County Schools (BCS) is on the cutting edge of technology and applying it to enhance every student's learning experience. Schools use virtual reality (VR) headsets to take students to space or other countries, and augmented reality (AR) brings the virtual piece to the classroom by streaming interactive content on the smartboard.
Digital Learning Coach Haley Stamey, showed fourth graders at Leicester Elementary how AR can be used in the medical field as they learn about the literal and figurative heart.
“In the Wit and Wisdom unit students are reading about a literal heart which includes vocabulary that goes along with it,” said Ms. Stamey. “I was able to stream from my iPad to the Smartboard an AR heart, where we explored the different areas of the organ. This helped make learning the new material more concrete and engaging.”
Students were in awe of seeing a beating heart in the classroom. They were able to see it pumping blood, and the signs of a healthy heart versus one with medical issues.
“I love to see the kids get excited to see the heart and themselves beside the heart on screen,” she said. “Their eyes lit up, and their confidence soared as they began to see the words from the textbook come to life. I love that in my role I get to share new technology to students, but also help the teachers learn new tech as well.”
