For decades now, we have heard how Virtual Reality has the potential to transform the way we learn, teach, and practice. Today, Virtual Reality (VR) can enable experiential learning by simulating real-world environments. Students can test their skills, record their work, and interact with experts – all by using VR tools. For visual learners and individuals with learning challenges, VR provides an alternative medium to meet their needs.
For the education sector the VR is an opportunity to finally connect both learners and teachers in a novel and meaningful way. The basic functionality of VR in education is to bring learning to life via a virtual environment. The more a learner is able to participate in life-like engagement, the easier it is to personally feel a connection to the subject material, making it easier for application and retention of the subject matter.
To give you an idea of how VR will eventually facilitate learning, we decided to take a look at some of the most notable examples of how Virtual Reality is already being used by learning institutions around the world.
01. Skills Training – Virtual Reality simulations can also help students or trainees in various fields learn practical skills. One of the biggest benefits to training people in this way is that they can learn from realistic scenarios without the risk of practicing an unfamiliar skill in an uncontrolled real-life situation. This eliminates a lot of the hazards and dangers.
02. Virtual Trips – Virtual trips have become one of the most popular applications of VR technology for learning. Many schools systems have begun using VR to transport students to faraway and even inaccessible parts of the planet. To eliminate travel costs, companies are providing virtual trips to unique locations like oil rigs, distant dive locations, and ports.
03. Virtual Campus Visits – Technology is changing the way students select universities and many schools have started Virtual Reality campus tours as a way to connect with applicants on a wider scale. These campus “visits” allow students to see what it would be like to attend universities in other cities and countries – short of being there in person.
The Virtual Reality tours use photos and videos of campuses and their surroundings that enable students to explore the campuses in 360-degree experiences.
04. Language Immersion – One of the best ways to learn a new language is through full immersion, as this requires students to listen to and speak the language they’re learning all day, every day. Since most of us can’t afford to jet off to another country for weeks or even months at a time, virtual immersion is the next best thing. Virtual Reality simulations can trick the brain into thinking the experiences are real, and a number of new language learning apps that use VR are being perfected to make use of these new technologies.
05. Distance Learning – Virtual Reality technology also has huge potential in the distance learning industry. A recent studies from many organizations showed that VR technology can “improve learning outcomes” for online students. The application provides virtual online chat spaces where students with a VR headset can project themselves and interact with lecturers and other students.
06. Improved Collaboration – Virtual Reality technology has the potential to greatly enhance collaboration between teachers and students, both in distance learning and classroom-based teaching. Research shows that Virtual and Augmented Reality simulations increase student’s motivation, improve collaboration, and knowledge. The students showed improvements in key areas including reduced embarrassment when practicing their language skills (as an example) and better social interactions between students.
07. Special Education – Technology and special education instructors can help spark their students’ imagination and give them a visual insight they wouldn’t otherwise have. For instance, students can take a peek inside an Egyptian temple or view a jet engine to gain an understanding of how it all fits or works together – making lessons a lot more hands on. Research has shown that lessons with Virtual Reality apps such as those that explore planets and stars tend to have a calming effect on the special education students.
08. Game-Based Learning – Virtual Reality has completely changed the way games can be used for learning. Game-based learning works because it increases interaction, motivation, completion, and Virtual Reality can take this to the next level. A lot can be accomplished in a virtual environment that would not be possible in real life.
09. 3D Awareness and Thinking – Schools are also finding that Virtual Reality technology is a great way to spark students’ creativity and keep them engaged, especially when it comes to understanding the complex 3D world around them. There is software that makes it possible for architects to take computer-generated 3D models and place viewers into those 3D models in order to bring their plans to life.
It’s important to pay attention to this new trend and adopt Virtual Reality solutions for the future planning to educate employees in new and better ways and to teach students with more engaging and effective tools. However, one has to take into consideration that many of the newer technologies had many barriers to concur; awareness, cost, content, and both VR and AR technology have already past this point.
In 2019 and the near future we will see the costs decrease, while better content will emerge and the awareness will spread. This will enable high growth in VR educational market. The positive change will not only affect how school students learn, but also how they communicate and interact with the real world – based on what they have experienced in their learning.