VR/AR Grant Story

Students use the class VR cube technology to view AR models.

Exciting things are coming to Forest Hills Northern Hills Middle School this fall! The Forest Hills Public Schools Foundation serves our district through 3 grant seasons each year, 2 of which allow any staff member of the district to apply for funding for their big ideas and projects.

This fall, the FHPS Foundation received a grant application from Lisa Zuniga, who has been teaching in Forest Hills Public Schools for over 20 years. Don’t let her long-term tenure fool you; Lisa is showing no signs of slowing down in the classroom. This was evident in her application for $20,779 to purchase a classroom set of VR headsets from ClassVR to support learning throughout Northern Hills Middle School.

The grant was approved by the FHPS Foundation Grants Committee, which is made up of parents, members of the Foundation Board of Trustees, and FHPS district leaders. The committee was particularly struck by Lisa’s history with this type of technology, having used it to much success in a 4th grade classroom as well.

Along with the full classroom set of AV Headsets, ClassVR provides comprehensive training for teachers throughout Northern Hills Middle School. All teachers in the building will have the opportunity to become trained in use of the headsets, and apply the new technology into their classrooms. Lisa shared in her grant application that “one of the greatest challenges for middle school students is being able to envision and fully grasp concepts that are beyond their immediate experience. With these headsets, students will be able to stand inside a historical landmark like the Parthenon while learning about Ancient Greece or hold a 3D model of a heart in their hands while studying the circulatory system.”

There’s plenty of research surrounding the benefits of getting hands on (at least virtually) in the classroom, with experiential learning becoming one of the most effective ways to engage students in learning materials. The benefits of experiential learning with technology like these headsets include greater engagement, higher comprehension and material retention, as well as allowing students to have experiences in virtual reality that they may not have the opportunity to experience “IRL.”

Lisa’s plan to bring technology into the classroom is breaking the norms of traditional education, and inspiring students to reach new heights. Lisa lauded the program as a great opportunity for students to truly engage: “Middle school can be a time when students find it difficult to connect with subjects outside their direct experience. By giving students access to these AR/VR experiences, they are no longer just reading about historical events or abstract scientific theories—they are living them. This interactive method of learning is not just the future of education; it is happening now, thanks to the support from the Foundation.”

The Foundation is proud to support such a forward-thinking project, one that will touch the lives of over 500 students each year and provide lasting benefits for both students and educators at Northern Hills Middle School. Thank you to Lisa, as well as principal Dr. David Simpson, for collaborating with the FHPS Foundation to create new opportunities for students!

Lisa Zuniga and Family