LAUSD began using the virtual reality (VR) headsets at a small number of schools two years ago, according to a news release from ClassVR parent company Avantis Education. Based on the success of these initial programs, the district ordered more headsets to expand access to VR lessons both in class and during extracurricular programs. The latest batch will be used by students in enrichment programs before and after school.
Avantis CEO Huw Williams said the growing partnership is evidence of LAUSD’s investment in pioneering education technology.
“Through our collaboration, we’re proud to help the district expand its use of VR technology in a thoughtful, strategic way, supporting the district’s vision of making learning more engaging and future-focused,” Williams said in a public statement.
ClassVR headsets are designed specifically for K-12 classrooms and come with a vast library of curriculum-aligned VR content and resources, according the company’s website. The UK-based ed-tech company, which has an office in Chicago, reports that students in more than 40,000 classrooms currently use its headsets.
At least according to one 2022 study of about 1,400 educators, many teachers are on board with the idea of using virtual reality in their classrooms: 77 percent said that XR (extended reality) technologies increase engagement with course material and can help students build career skills. However, accessibility issues and the cost of the technology have been barriers to widespread implementation. The ClassVR website does not list a price for its headsets, but various online retailers sell bundles of them at prices that translate to $1,500-$1,700 per headset.
LAUSD, the second largest school district in the U.S., has not been shy about investing in innovative tools in recent years. In the last 12 months, the district has launched free teletherapy, a proprietary multilingual AI chatbot and half a dozen Best Buy Teen Tech Centers. The district declined requests for an interview.
