Exploring Virtual Reality in Middle School

Posted by Pine Crest School on March 4, 2019 at 12:12 PM

Middle School at Pine Crest is home to new virtual reality (VR) equipment, which Pine Crest Computer Science and Technology faculty are using to teach students how to create their own virtual experiences and to influence others’ perspective.

“More content is being released and is increasingly available and accessible, and VR and augmented reality (AR) devices are becoming more effective,” said Mr. Sean Tibor, Pine Crest Computer Science and Technology Specialist. “By the time our Middle School students go to college, they will need to know how to use this equipment and feel comfortable using it.”

The terms “VR” and “AR” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.

“The difference is that AR takes information around you and fuses the world you are in with additional data or information  — think Pokemon Go,” said Mr. Tibor. “VR is about immersion and perspective. It overlays virtual items or instances on top of the real world. The benefit of VR technology is that it can change our perspective from a few different axes: distance, time, scale, and the forthcoming, human perspective."

Delving into these axes, Mr. Tibor shared how using VR technology is not limited to one course or subject.  

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Topics: Innovation, Panther Pulse, Faculty, Middle School, Design Thinking, Innovation Institute, 2019, Academics

Pine Crest Middle School Students Use Biomechanics To Develop Earthquake Resistant Homes

Posted by Pine Crest School on February 15, 2019 at 1:53 PM

Project based learning (PBL) initiatives are some of the ways faculty are approaching hands-on learning with students. A PBL assignment engages students in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. Students then demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing a public product or presentation for a real audience.

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Topics: 2018, Athletics, Faculty, Middle School, Design Thinking, Innovation Institute

Five Tips To Building Resilience in Young Coders

Posted by Pine Crest School on January 16, 2019 at 9:50 AM

By Kelly Paredes, M.Ed., CIT
Computer Science and Educational Technology Specialist

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Topics: Lower School, Innovation, Faculty, Innovation Institute

Supporting Faculty Professionalism at Pine Crest School

Posted by Pine Crest School on November 27, 2018 at 10:22 AM

All year long, faculty, administrators, and staff are able to take advantage of stimulating professional development activities — sometimes right on campus.

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Topics: 2018, Faculty

Investing in High Quality Faculty Professional Development

Posted by Pine Crest School on September 21, 2018 at 4:32 PM

Before setting up classrooms and welcoming students for the first day of school in August, Pine Crest School faculty participated in the Teachers Teaching Teachers professional development day. Now in its ninth year, teachers participate in a variety of peer-led learning sessions where they connected with colleagues, exchanged expertise, and engaged in dialogue about best practices.

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Topics: News, 2018, Innovation, Panther Pulse, Faculty