How Virtual Reality Is Improving Online Learning Experience
The way we learn has changed considerably since the past – all thanks to technology. The internet helped us to move from traditional classrooms to online and remote learning on our laptops. However, we didn’t stop there, students can now learn by experiencing things through virtual reality. In past, many students could be seen searching for do my course services because they found the lectures boring. Conversely, virtual reality has completely changed the game for students and made learning more fun!
Virtual/Augmented Reality Benefits Students In The Following Ways:
A Better Sense Of Place
Reading about something leaves space for imagination (or the lack of it) but experiencing it is something completely different. When you experience information, it doesn’t leave any gap for imagination and so you are the closest to reality. While learning through VR, you’re doing more than reading black-colored text in a book or watching a 2D image. Indeed you are able to live and experience that information to learn about a subject.
Learn By Doing
We all know that we learn better after we practically do them rather than just listening or reading about something. If you notice your curriculum, you are only learning passively by absorbing the information to see or hear. VR in education fills the gap between theory in the classroom and the practical world. So no need to wait for the start of your career to learn information when you have virtual reality.
Provide An Immersive Environment
Learning through VR can engage all of your senses and stimulate creative thinking. In virtual reality, you can not only explore creative scenes but also create them on your own. Since you have more access to tools and the ability to control the environment, you can easily upgrade your creativity. Moreover, when you truly experience an environment, your story-telling skills become better.
Promotes Visual Learning
Many times, students want to see things for themselves instead of just reading information. Now schools cannot schedule field trips to far-off places and ancient ruins – this is where virtual reality comes into play. It is that freeway that can take you to any place you’re learning about. So if you want to learn about history or watch complex functions, virtual reality can make it easier for you.
Provides A Safe Environment
Students are prone to make mistakes while learning but the cost can be heavy at times. One extra drop of a chemical can turn into a science lab disaster within a second. Hence teachers can use virtual reality to provide students with a safe environment to learn and practice. This way they would be more prepared to implement what they have learned in the real world.
Overall, virtual reality is a fantastic bridge between theory and practice that promotes active learning of students. Now that we know all these benefits of VR for learning, let’s get into where it’s used!
The Uses of VR/AR in Education
Professional Training:
There’s a first time for everything but many teachers dread their very first lecture in a classroom. New graduates need the experience to work on their teaching skills and they have to earn this experience through initial lectures. However, virtual reality can help prepare these teachers by providing them with a real-life setting to practice. Hence, the student avatars respond to their teaching and they upgrade their skills through these lectures. The same applies to teachers who are dealing with students with disabilities or those with trauma. Virtual reality can prepare these teachers to deal with critical situations in the classroom.
VR For Students With Limitations:
Students have varying abilities and in some cases, they are limited. Students who have learning difficulties can use VR reality for an enhanced learning experience. VR is a great option for students who struggle with traditional lectures. Indeed, VR has helped students with autism, ADHD, and physical disabilities. Thus, students with disabilities can now practice their skills in a safe and controlled environment. Students with limitations find it distressing to go through unfamiliar situations and new places. However, virtual reality can better prepare them to perform daily life functions by presenting realistic scenarios.
Cost-Effective Field Trips:
VR headsets are a one-time investment that can be used in many classrooms in the school. However, if a school decided to take all those students out on a field trip, it would cost a lot more. This does not mean that the students never get to go on a field trip throughout the year. Rather, they get to experience many more field trips through VR headsets and visit far-off places. Thanks to VR, these students can now visit places that they couldn’t access before due to the location or cost.
Education For Climate Change:
Climate change is a critical subject in today’s age and students need to learn more about it. While a plain old classroom lecture with 2D posters does provide information, students learn more when they see it for themselves. The impact of witnessing the melting glaciers and burning forests can help students learn about the gravity of this issue. Hence a climate change lecture using VR would allow students to change their daily habits and become more environmentally conscious.
In Conclusion:
As you can see, VR has changed education for the better. Virtual reality is not only great for entertainment purposes but also to enhance your learning by providing realistic scenarios. Moreover, it’s a great tool for training and preparing teachers and all types of students. When VR becomes common in classrooms, students would unanimously say: ‘I don’t need anyone else to