The New Ulm School Board received a presentation from the high school science teachers Chris Brock and Matt Nelson on implementing virtual reality into the school’s science curriculum. The presentation included a hands-on test of the virtual reality equipment.

The VR equipment was paid for through a technology and innovation grant that the school applied for in 2019. New Ulm High School principal Mark Bergmann said the school was awarded the grant, but once COVID hit the school had other concerns and the grant was put on hold until now.

“This has been a long time coming, but we’re finally digging our feet in,” Brock said. The science department has purchased multiple Oculus Meta Quest 3 devices. The school is using mobile device management company ManageXR to monitor the devices and make sure students are using them for educational purposes. The management company of the school can send out commands and lock students into specific applications and programs.

The benefits of the VR program are it allows the school to enhance the science curriculum and saves costs on expensive lab equipment.

New Ulm School Board Chair Steve Gag (right) watches as New Ulm Superintendent Sean Koster (left) tests out the new virtual reality equipment during a recent School Board work session. The VR equipment was purchased for use in the school’s science department. The benefits of the VR program is it allows the school to enhance the science curriculum and saves costs on expensive lab equipment.

Brock the VR equipment has programs for every content area in high school science. She used chemistry as an example. Currently, there are certain chemistry lab experiments that cannot be conducted at the school because of the danger of certain chemicals. However, in a virtual lab, there is no danger to the students.

“In ninth grade Earth and Space science, they can virtually go out and explore planets now,” Brock said. “I was driving around Mars on a rover at home the other day.”

Nelson teaches health science, including anatomy. There are VR programs that allow students to explore a variety of different models without the extra cost to the school.

“Anatomy models are extremely expensive,” Nelson said. The VR will allow them to examine simulated models. He said the technology worked great for studying muscle structures. “It’s going to be a huge help, instead of ordering expensive models.”

Brock said in test runs with the equipment the students have done well. Many of the students already have VR headsets for personal use and are comfortable using them in class.

During Thursday’s New Ulm School Board work sessions, members of the board and guest experimented with the school’s new VR equipment. Using the VR headsets several the board explored a virtual library. Others practiced dissecting frogs. Overall the board was impressed with the technology and it’s potential uses at the school.

Nelson said this year the science department is still rolling out the new tech and exploring ways to use it. Over the summer they will be able to develop different curriculums using the VR equipment for next year.

The school board and guests were allowed to test out the VR equipment. Using the VR headsets several the board explored a virtual library. Others practiced dissecting frogs. Overall the board was impressed with the technology, though a few admitted experiencing vertigo.

“We have the ability to expand on this,” Bergmann said. The devices were purchased for the science department but VR could be used in other areas of the school. “We’re also looking at 3D art and drawing in 3D environments.”

The work session also included a technology update from the school’s tech director Miles Verbridge. Verbridge also is looking at a new Chromebook lease. The school’s lease cycle is four years and ends next school year, but will need to renew before the 2026-2027 school year. Verbridge is looking at price breakdowns between leasing the Chromebooks versus purchasing the devices.

He said over a four-year time period the school pays $491,772.60 to lease Chromebooks. To purchase Chromebooks the cost over four years is $318,750. There is over $100,000 in savings by purchasing the Chromebooks, however, Verbridge said the benefit of a lease is the leasing company is responsible for any device maintenance and repair. If the Chromebooks are purchased, the school’s tech team will be responsible for repairs.

Verbridge said that was not necessarily a problem, but it was something to consider before the school purchased Chromebooks again.

There is also the possibility that the Chromebooks could be sold after four years, but Verbridge had no hard numbers on how much the school could receive back four years from now.