In a world where independence and mobility are becoming increasingly important, the Virtual Reality learning platform 'Virtual OV' offers a promising solution for students. Especially for students with a language delay at Kranenburg Praktijkonderwijs in Utrecht, this innovative teaching method has proven effective. Marloes Heidekamp, teacher and ICT coordinator, shares her positive experiences with this innovative teaching method.
“I have been working at this school for ten years and I still learn new things every day,” says Marloes. “Kranenburg is a school for practical education with a meaningful, future-oriented, and positive learning and living environment,” Marloes explains. “After completing practical education, our students can participate independently and fully in society. They are then able to work and live independently, spend their free time in a meaningful way, and be active citizens. To achieve this, students also develop specific professional competencies that match the sector they choose. The individual possibilities and talents of students are central during the lessons.”
“Many teachers have been working at this school for more than ten years, and some even for forty years,” Marloes continues. “I think that says something about the atmosphere here. There is also no teacher in our team who has only ever held one position all those years.” Marloes herself has had various roles within Kranenburg, from mentor teacher for students in phases 1, 2, and 3, to Citizenship Coordinator, Subsidy Coordinator, and AVO mentor and teacher. “Because all teachers fulfill different roles, you constantly have to learn to look at education from a different perspective. This broadens your frame of reference and keeps you learning.”
No achievement without relationship
“We are also critical of ourselves,” Marloes continues. “For example, we never say that a student ‘has difficulty learning.’ If something doesn’t work out, we consult a colleague: This student is very restless in my class, is it the same with you? We look at what a child needs in order to learn something. Is it something in the home environment, or is there something on the child’s social ladder that is causing a learning block? Or is it something in our own behavior? Then we see if we can adjust that in our relationship with the student. After all, without relationship, there can be no achievement.”
‘Virtual OV is a real gamechanger for our students’
Importance of Virtual OV for Student Self-Reliance
“At this school, we teach students aged 12 to 18 with mild intellectual disabilities. We teach them the basic skills they need to function in our society. For example: how do I register for housing, how do I apply for an ID card or something else at the municipality, and how can I travel by public transport? We prepare students for these ‘struggles’ so they can participate in society as fully as possible. We look at what students practically need, such as traveling by public transport. Being able to practice this skill with the help of Virtual OV in a safe, stress-free environment is very important for our students.”
NS TreinTrainPakket
With the aim of increasing the self-reliance of neurodivergent people, NS introduced the TreinTrainPakket, at the beginning of 2023, of which Virtual OV is a part. “Kranenburg Praktijkonderwijs was one of the first five schools and care institutions to work with the TreinTrainPakket for two months, after which we purchased the Virtual OV set ourselves.”
Learning to Travel Safely in a Virtual World Through Play
Over the past three years, Marloes has trained fifteen classes from years 1 to 3 with Virtual OV, and the reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. “Both our teachers and students are happy with it. They find traveling by public transport quite challenging and really ask for it because Virtual OV allows them to practice traveling in a safe setting. In class, I pair a student who is already quite good at the game with a student who could use a bit more self-confidence. This way, they can help and learn from each other. Students also say they really enjoy the game element. Gaming is, of course, very popular among young people. And as a parent of young gamers, I also enjoy gaming myself. This approach not only makes the learning process more effective but also much more fun
Positive Effect on Students’ Self-Confidence
Students who now travel independently by public transport are also very enthusiastic about Virtual OV. Marloes: “They say they don’t panic as quickly anymore if their train is unexpectedly delayed. They know what to do to ask for information or help.” Especially for students with a language delay who live in a suburb of Utrecht or even further away, Virtual OV is invaluable. “Without being able to practice traveling by bus or train in a stress-free situation, these children would have run away in panic from the crowds and noise at Hoog Catharijne station. They probably would never have dared to leave their neighborhood again, with all the negative consequences for their development. We also have students at our school who have fled their home country because of war. For these students as well, being able to practice independent travel is essential.”
Citizenship and Digital Literacy Lessons
As ICT coordinator for the curriculum, Marloes and her colleagues have developed their own learning pathway for the subjects Citizenship and Digital Literacy. All lessons meet the nationally set learning objectives and are adapted for students with a language delay. Here too, Virtual OV is a valuable tool. “That’s how we do it for all subjects. All teaching material can be adapted so that our students can learn it as well.”
Indispensable Contribution to Society
“We often notice that students with a language delay feel inferior. But they are actually very skilled; what their eyes see, their hands can make. I regularly tell students: ‘I need you to do my work at this school. Without you, my children wouldn’t be looked after at after-school care, the computer in my car wouldn’t be read in case of a malfunction, and there would be no hairdresser to cut my hair.’ Then you see them glow with pride, because then they realize why they are so needed. Without them, society would really come to a standstill.”
A Great Step Forward Toward Inclusive Education
Virtual OV has proven itself as a valuable tool in increasing students’ self-reliance. It is a valuable addition to the educational offering for students with a language delay and not only provides practical skills, but also increases these students’ self-confidence and independence. With this innovative approach, Kranenburg Praktijkonderwijs is taking an important step towards more inclusive and effective education.
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