With the influence of modern technology on people’s everyday lives, today, virtual reality is on its way to becoming widespread across many fields. What was previously a very “expensive” thing has now become easily accessible as an interactive interface for all people, young and old.
This article examines how virtual reality in the classroom can be the new norm and if it will improve students’ well-being. However, before we delve deeper into the topic, let’s begin with a few basic facts and explain what VR is.
What is VR?
VR is a computer-based simulation designed to change what the user perceives as reality wherein they can interact with elements of three dimensions. Although you are physically outside of your environment, the all-encompassing nature and feeling when using a VR headset make it feel convincing that your surroundings are real.
These virtual realities can be completely abstract, encompassing impossible features and locations, or they may perfectly mirror real-world experiences such as visiting Rome via the Internet, on which you could drive through the street where your home is located, using Google Earth. Naturally, such a powerful thing can be used as an excellent tool for the teaching process.
When we think of VR in classrooms, it’s easy to envision something futuristic and beyond our understanding. However, it is now widely available worldwide, with educational institutions adopting it into daily classes and lectures. The use case is extensive and is also being adopted to teach medical practitioners.
How Can Virtual Reality Benefit Students?
Virtual reality enables students to learn through hands-on experiences. By utilizing virtual and augmented reality as immersive learning tools, students can virtually travel the world, explore the unimaginable, delve into complex concepts, and experience learning firsthand – all within the confines of a safe, secure, and familiar environment: the classroom!
These incredible opportunities present numerous advantages of incorporating virtual reality in education! Studies indicate that VR can be a more effective learning tool compared to many traditional teaching methods, as highlighted in this document on the advantages of virtual reality in education. For instance, by immersing students in the lesson, virtual reality establishes more connections between subjects and environments than other teaching methods, aiding in their better understanding, engagement, and retention of concepts!
Advantages of Virtual Reality in Education
- Open new opportunities and create accessibility for every student.
- Improve understanding of complex, conceptual subjects
- Boost excitement and engagement in the classroom
- Improve communication and collaboration skills.
- Focus student attention on the lesson.
- Increase memory power and knowledge retention.
- Build emotional intelligence, awareness, and understanding.
- Improve learning outcomes.
How Does it Work?
A prevalent type of VR in education. Getting right into the groundwork, specialized cameras and equipment capture real-world locations. The recorded footage is then taken to the studio, where it is transformed into VR content. This VR content can be experienced through VR headsets or projected onto walls in immersive classrooms.
VR is a valuable educational tool, allowing students to learn about the world around them. Moreover, virtual reality possesses a unique ability to inspire and engage students. Through VR, students can explore locations that might be impractical or too costly to visit in person. This capability opens up possibilities for teachers and schools, offering students a whole new way to experience and learn. Here is a look at detailed understanding of each aspect:
Vision
You might be curious how these simple pair of goggles can completely transform your surroundings. The key lies in creating a three-dimensional view, facilitated by stereopsis – the ability to visualize a three-dimensional shape using visual information from both eyes. Your right and left eyes perceive things slightly differently, and their combined views recreate the effect of how we see things in everyday life.
The goggles display two images, one for each eye, at the ideal distance to generate a sense of depth. This approach delivers a three-dimensional simulation unlike flat images on photos or phone screens.
Movement
The enchantment of VR is rooted in the headset’s capability to track a student’s or teacher’s head and eye movements, adjusting perspective accordingly. Additionally, these headsets can monitor the body’s movements, enabling the user to physically walk within the simulated environment.
The controllers provide an alternative way to steer through the virtual space. The movement functionality is beneficial when it comes to learning. As mentioned earlier, with the example of medical practices using VR – other related courses like engineering, science, and arts also benefit from it.
Sound
Sound plays a vital role in complementing surroundings to achieve a fully immersive experience in a VR classroom. Therefore, a VR headset is only considered complete with adding headphones, which are often integrated to give a whole real-life experience.
Conclusion – Looking Forward to the Future of VR in Education
In this digital era, the popularity of online and distance learning is on the rise, and more individuals are recognizing the advantages of utilizing an online learning platform. Given these significant shifts, it is only logical to leverage technology to enhance the potential of a learning environment.
