How VR and AR Are Revolutionary Education For Kids
The benefits of VR for education
Introduction
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are no longer limited to the gaming industry. Now, the education sector is also maximizing the use of these technologies to improve the quality of education and expand learning opportunities for students wherever they are. Indeed, a recent industry report revealed that the AR and VR market in education will steadily grow during the forecast period of 2022 to 2027, with a CAGR of 18.2%. This underscores how quickly and effectively AR and VR are being integrated into education.
But how exactly do AR and VR change the way children learn today?
Presents new ways of teaching
One of the aspects of education that AR and VR are changing is the methods of teaching and instruction by teachers. With these technologies, instructors can teach students new ideas and concepts using non-traditional approaches. For example, VR can be a useful alternative to live animal dissection. This enables students to examine an animal’s anatomy through safe and realistic VR dissections instead of simply reading them in books. Furthermore, research on the use of VR technology in classrooms showed that VR-based learning captivates and sustains learner engagement.
Moreover, researchers discussed that these technologies promote active learning and boost memorization skills while providing students with an enjoyable learning experience. All in all, this just shows that AR and VR open opportunities for students to become engaged with their lessons, encouraging them to learn and participate more during classes. For this reason, experts consider AR and VR as the learning aids of the 21st century.
Allows students to have immersive virtual field trips
Another way VR and AR are changing the education industry is by enabling students to travel to museums, historical places, and natural heritage sites that they wouldn’t normally be able to visit through virtual field trips. As a result, they can have a more immersive educational experience, even without leaving their classrooms. For example, one of the places they can visit is the famous British Museum in London, considered one of the largest museums in the world.
All they have to do is install the Google Arts & Culture application and use this tool to explore and examine various ancient artifacts and artworks that are only available in the museum. Since students can experience these in the comfort of their homes, using VR in education is cost-effective because costs like transportation, venue selection, and accommodation are eliminated. On top of that, students can explore the museum at their own pace and time.
Promotes accessibility in education
Lastly, VR and AR are changing the world by making education accessible to students wherever they are. Because they can download AR applications on their smartphones and tablets, they can conveniently start learning on their own, even if they’re not inside a traditional classroom. An example of an application that students can install is AR Anatomy, which allows them to learn more about the human body in an interactive way.
Additionally, thanks to these advanced technologies, lessons requiring practical skill-based education are now achievable even with a distance learning setup. As a matter of fact, a study on distance learning using VR technology explained that the ability of VR to simulate reality enables students to learn practical skills that are traditionally limited to physical classrooms. Moreover, VR technology can facilitate face-to-face communication between students and teachers without being physically in the same room. Ultimately, AR and VR technologies are significantly improving accessibility in education.
Written for xpertvr.ca by JB Simmons
