Library Information Specialist Deerfield District 109 / Alan B. Shepard Middle School
Empathy is an invaluable 21st century skill, which allows us to better understand others’ perspectives in order to be more compassionate individuals. This session will show you how you can harness the power of virtual reality (VR) through a variety of tools in order to open students’ eyes to the world around them and within them--accessing Rudine Sims Bishop’s (1990) “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors.” Participants will learn about free and paid tools used by librarians for both consumption and creation of VR content across a variety of platforms to develop students’ empathy and understanding.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, the participant will be able to identify virtual reality tools that can be used in a library setting with youth patrons.
Upon completion, the participant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the impact virtual reality tools have on both academic and social-emotional learning.
Upon completion, the participant will understand how virtual reality can both embody and extend Rudine Sims Bishop's concept of "mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors."