So, you’re ready for your first lesson! We love to hear it!
Before you get started, you may be wondering: how should I prepare? What do I need? And how do I introduce my pupils, students or staff to virtual reality (VR)?
You’re in the right place. We’re here to guide you through the process so you can feel prepared and confident before putting on those headsets.
But before your first lesson, we’d recommend starting with your…
Strategy Meeting
Your strategy meeting is one of the most valuable parts of the onboarding process. It’s where you’ll discuss your goals, identify the best approach for implementation and receive tailored advice to help you get the most from your trauma-informed programme.
Every setting and group is different, so use this opportunity to think about who will be taking part, what you hope to achieve and any considerations that could influence how you deliver your sessions.
The advice in this article builds on the foundations established during this conversation.
If you are yet to have your strategy meeting, please reach out to your VR Service Manager who can help arrange this with you.
Before the Lesson
A little preparation can go a long way towards helping your first session run smoothly.
Before delivering an experience to others, make sure you have previewed the VR content yourself. This will help you understand what participants are going to see and hear, anticipate moments that may prompt a response and feel more confident facilitating conversations afterwards.
Refer to the relevant lesson plan for guidance on how to structure your session, including any suggested activities or discussion points.
It’s also worth preparing the physical environment. Think about where participants will sit, make sure there is enough space for them to comfortably turn their heads and remove any unnecessary distractions from the room.
Most importantly, avoid rushing. Allow plenty of time for introducing the technology and answering questions before beginning the experience.
What is Virtual Reality?
It’s likely that some of your participants will have questions about VR. Answering these questions is a great place to start.
Some may have used VR before, particularly in a gaming environment. It’s important to explain that the content they’ll be experiencing today is different. While it will be fully immersive, it won’t be interactive in the same way as a VR game.
Before starting, you might want to explain a few things:
- The VR headset allows you to look around in all directions, helping you feel as though you are present within the environment.
- The experience uses both sight and sound to create a sense of immersion, but everything you are seeing exists within a digital space.
- You remain in control throughout the experience and can remove your headset at any time.
- You can also adjust the volume if you need to.
For anyone unfamiliar with VR, particularly those who may feel anxious about trying something new, take some time to introduce the equipment before asking them to put it on.
Let participants hold the headset and controller first. Show them where the power and volume buttons are and demonstrate how the straps can be adjusted for a comfortable fit.
It can also help to have everyone practise putting their headset on and taking it off before beginning. Knowing that they can easily remove the headset themselves can help participants feel more comfortable and in control.
Creating a Safe and Comfortable Environment
Introducing VR isn’t only about introducing the technology. It’s also about helping participants understand that they have choice and control throughout the session.
Before beginning, make it clear that there is no pressure to continue with an experience if they feel uncomfortable. Participants should know that they can remove their headset, adjust the volume, ask for support or take a break whenever they need to.
Try to avoid putting anyone on the spot or asking them to explain why they would prefer not to continue.
Creating this sense of choice from the beginning can help participants approach the experience at a pace that feels manageable for them.
Navigating the Platform
Entering the Cornerstone VR platform for the first time may prompt questions or feel unfamiliar to some participants, so give everyone an opportunity to explore their surroundings before moving on to your lesson content.
Here are a few pointers for introducing the platform:
- While participants have their VR headsets on, ensure they are seated comfortably with enough room to look around. Start in the main platform area and ask them to describe what they can see.
- Ask them to navigate to the Elephants film, which can be found in the ‘Relaxing’ tab.
- During the film, encourage them to notice their surroundings. What can they see? What can they hear?
- Use this first experience as an opportunity for participants to practise looking around and becoming familiar with how VR feels.
- Remind them that they can remove their headset or adjust the volume at any time.
There’s no need to rush through this stage. Giving participants time to become familiar with the technology can make it easier for them to focus on the content later.
Check In Before You Begin
Once everyone is comfortable using their headset, take a moment to check in with the group before moving on to your chosen experience.
Does everyone know how to remove their headset? Can they adjust the volume? Is everyone sitting comfortably?
This is also a good opportunity to remind participants that everyone may respond differently to what they experience.
There isn’t a “right” way to react to VR content, and participants shouldn’t feel that they need to have a particular response.
During the Experience
As the facilitator, your role continues while participants are wearing their headsets.
Pay attention to how the group is responding and be available if somebody needs support. Participants may choose to remove their headset before an experience has finished, and that’s okay.
Avoid immediately asking someone to put their headset back on. Instead, give them space and allow them to decide whether they would like to continue.
Remember: completing the VR experience isn’t the goal in itself. The experience is a tool to support learning, reflection and conversation.
After the Headsets Come Off
Don’t feel you need to jump straight into questions as soon as an experience finishes.
Allow participants a moment to readjust to the room and give everyone time to settle before beginning your discussion or follow-up activity.
When you’re ready, open questions can help participants reflect on what they experienced. For example:
- What did you notice?
- How did the environment feel?
- Was there anything that stood out to you?
- Did anything surprise you?
Remember that participants may interpret the same experience differently. Creating space for those different perspectives can lead to valuable conversations.
And Finally… Take Your Time
Your first lesson is a learning experience for you too.
You don’t need to fit everything into one session or have every conversation straight away. Becoming comfortable facilitating VR experiences takes time, and each session will help you understand what works best for your setting and the people you support.
Prepare your environment, familiarise yourself with the content, give participants plenty of choice and control, and use the guidance established during your strategy meeting.
Then, when everyone is ready, it’s time to put on the headsets and begin.