INSTRUCTIONAL SOFTWARE

Name: Benjamin Harmon

Software Title: The Body VR: Journey Inside a Cell
URL: http://thebodyvr.com/journey-inside-a-cell/
Function(s) of Instructional Software (check all that apply):
Drill and Practice Tutorial Simulation Instructional Game e-books/e-references
Features of the Software (check all that apply):
Assessment Monitoring/Reporting (Keeps track of student data and/or generates reports for
the teacher)
Allows teacher to create customized lessons for students
Multi-user or collaborative functions with others in class
Multi-user or collaborative functions with others beyond local class
Accessible to students beyond the school day
Accessible via mobile devices
Multiple languages
Safety, security, and/or privacy features
Strengths of the Software:
The lesson has a lot of strengths that keep the students engaged with its fast paced software and
the VR graphics are fantastic. The content for the application is very update and relays the
information to the students concise, but gives a lot of information still. The biggest strength of the
software is that it is useable by both types of smartphones and can be used outside of the
classroom.
Suggestions for Improvement:
Although the application provides the class with visuals they would not be able to see in their
textbook, it can still be quite limiting in the fact that every class has to follow the exact path
through the cell. The software could be improved, by allowing a large number of students on the
software at one time, there were some reviews about students being kicked out of the application.
However, this could just be a wireless connection problem.
Standards Addressed: See https://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/Default.aspx
SB1. Students will analyze the nature of the relationships between structures and functions in living cells.
a. Explain the role of cell organelles for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including the cell
membrane, in maintaining homeostasis and cell reproduction.
Technology Standards Addressed
ISTE Standards for Students
1. Empowered Learner
2. Digital Citizen
3. Knowledge Constructor

Grade Level/Content Area(s): 9th Grade Biology

Bloom’s Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply). See
http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy
Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating

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 INSTRUCTIONAL SOFTWARE

Description of how to implement in the class:

During this lesson, the students will be led through a virtual reality tour of an animal cell by the
teacher to see how different organelles look and their functions. The students will need to
download the free Google Cardboard app to take the tour and have a smart phone (iPhone or
Android), if the student does not have a cell phone they can follow along with the teacher on an
Ipad. The lesson will be introduced to the students after they have had the organelles vocabulary
and a short lecture PowerPoint. The students will be assessed on how well they stay focused
throughout the tour, as the teacher can see which students are not following along with the
program. They will also be asked if they can recognize some of the organelles from their
vocabulary before the teacher reveals what they are. The lesson can be differentiated as some
students could be led by the teacher or for higher learning students, they can lead themselves
through the tour and answer prompted questions. As well as, some students can do an animal cell
tour while others can have a plant cell tour.
As mentioned earlier, higher level students can lead themselves and try and identify all the
organelles without assistance and to take it a step further, identify the function of the organelle
from the short lecture or vocabulary. The lesson will be concluded by having the students use their
phones at home to take the tour by themselves and create their own 3D model of an animal or
plant cell using whatever materials they choose to use. The students will be given feedback on
their understanding of the cells organelles and functions by having them present their cells to the
class and how well the stay on task throughout the lesson. Higher learning students will be given
feedback on their prompted questions they completed while their self-guided tour.