The technology of virtual reality has been around for decades now, but its real boom in performance and affordability only happened in the last few years.
As a result of this, Virtual Reality started to be used in several various industries, and this includes the field of education. In this article, we will provide an overview of how the field of education is implementing the technology of virtual reality, and what direction this topic is taking as a whole.
Immersive Learning and Its Potential
The field of education puts learning at the center. This is a great opportunity to use virtual reality as an educational tool, as it promotes immersive learning. Immersive learning is a way to make students immerse themselves in a virtual environment. This can be extremely beneficial as it poses the accent on a more engaging and interactive learning experience, which can also promote empathy for others and curiosity for the new and the unknown.
Thanks to immersive learning, students can explore several environments, such as historical sites, or even travel to different parts of the world, observe space, and all of this without moving from the classroom. Virtual reality can also simulate real-life scenarios, and this can be game-changing for several types of training, such as medical or scientific. Thanks to virtual reality, students can experience fast-paced situations, without real consequences, but still gain all the training and knowledge given by the experience.
Personalized Learning
Similarly to Immersive learning, the aspect of personalized learning should also be taken into account when talking about the benefits of virtual reality in education. Virtual reality can be used to create personalized learning experiences, which can be created around each student’s needs and learning style, without falling for the premise that every student needs the same things.
Teachers can therefore create virtual lessons, and adapt them to match the student’s levels of understanding, and by doing so, promote a more inclusive type of training, and an open environment for learning.
It must be considered that virtual reality found many implementations, not only in the field of education but also in the field of entertainment. Through virtual reality and its immersive nature, people can try several different games, from the comfort of their homes.
Thanks to these great technological tools, people can try the best online slot games, but also adventure games, sports games, collaboration games, and many more. The possibilities behind the field of virtual reality are endless, and the applications of such potential can be presented in many forms, and help us develop several fields of our lives, from entertainment to education.
Accessibility
Virtual Reality can provide access to educational concepts and material, at an effective and low cost. Many students might not have access to traditional learning environments, and thanks to tools such as virtual reality, geographical distance or simple obstacles can become much less impairing.
This also works for students who might have disabilities or learning differences, as virtual reality can provide a more inclusive and accommodating learning experience, where the virtual reality visor works as an alternative to the need to move our body traditionally, and it works through our visual apparatus and our cognitive abilities.
Effective Cost
Another important aspect to take into account is the affordability of new virtual reality visors and similar appliances. Thanks to the popularity of this technological tool, it became much easier to purchase and use them, even with moderate to low-tech skills. When related to education, virtual reality could reduce the need for physical resources such as textbooks and field trips.
At the same time, it could reduce the need for transportation. It can also enhance the efficacy of classroom time, as it would allow teachers and trainers to cover more material in less time.
Challenges and Areas of Improvement
Virtual education has many benefits, but there are also some challenges to consider when thinking about its applications in the field of education. For example, it is important to mention that virtual reality and its technology require a significant investment in hardware and software, which could not be a feasible option for many schools or districts.
Together with that, it must be considered that there is a learning curve when talking about virtual reality and that not everyone would feel comfortable using it as an educational tool at first. Plus, some potential negative effects of the prolonged use of virtual reality should be taken into consideration, such as eye strain and motion sickness.
Technology can be our ally when it comes to education, but it should be approached with caution and wisdom, just like every other tool. But with the right set of skills, we could all benefit from the implementation of virtual reality in the field of education, and many other fields as well.