Virtually Real Activities
By Brundige, Ann; Closing the Gap, Vol. 28, No. 2, p. 30Publication Date: June/July 2009
Article describes free virtual reality classroom activity sets for students with special needs, downloadable from Annie’s Resource Attic (http://www.annbrundigestudio.com). (1) In Mountain Bike Race, the handlebars and the trail ahead are displayed on each page, providing the illusion of a first-hand experience; (2) a computer-assisted design program was used to create a realistic shower backdrop and all the accessories such as soap, towel, and washcloth in the life-skills activity ShowerTime!, in which you also hear the water running; (3) realistic sound effects are also part of Snow, where you hear a snowplow going by and the breaths of a person shoveling snow; (4) in Log Cabin, each toy log piece makes a sound when the student adds it to the cabin being built, as do objects such as plates, bottles, and a metal lantern when they are put on a shelf; (5) students choose the features for their creations in Jack O’Lantern and Holiday Wreaths; when completed, the creation lights up and, in the case of the lantern, a scary sound is made; and (6) in the Tide Pools activities, users can wander at will over a wide area, giving them a chance to choose their experiences. The activities can be used with applications such as My Own Bookshelf, Clicker 5, and Classroom Suite.
Assistive Products Discussed: CLICKER 6
MY OWN BOOKSHELF
Published by: Closing the Gap, Inc. (Website:http://www.closingthegap.com)
