How do you communicate with stakeholders when using VR and AR in education?

1 Understand your audience

Before you design, develop, or deliver VR and AR learning activities, you need to understand who your audience is and what they want to achieve. Different stakeholders may have different levels of familiarity, interest, and access to VR and AR technologies. They may also have different learning goals, preferences, and challenges. You can use surveys, interviews, focus groups, or observation to gather information about your audience and tailor your communication accordingly.

2 Explain the benefits and challenges

VR and AR can offer many benefits for education, such as increasing engagement, motivation, immersion, interactivity, collaboration, and creativity. They can also provide authentic, contextualized, and personalized learning opportunities that are otherwise difficult or impossible to achieve. However, VR and AR also pose some challenges, such as technical issues, ethical implications, safety risks, accessibility barriers, and cost implications. You need to explain both the benefits and the challenges of using VR and AR in education to your stakeholders and how you plan to address them.

3 Demonstrate the value and impact

One of the most effective ways to communicate with stakeholders is to show them the value and impact of VR and AR in education. You can use various methods to demonstrate how VR and AR can improve learning outcomes, such as portfolios, assessments, feedback, testimonials, case studies, or research findings. You can also use metrics, such as retention, completion, satisfaction, or performance, to measure and report the effectiveness of VR and AR learning activities. You can also use stories, examples, or scenarios to illustrate how VR and AR can enhance learning experiences.

4 Involve and empower stakeholders

Another way to communicate with stakeholders is to involve and empower them in the VR and AR learning process. You can invite stakeholders to participate in the design, development, or delivery of VR and AR learning activities, or to provide feedback, suggestions, or support. You can also empower stakeholders to create their own VR and AR learning content, or to share their VR and AR learning experiences with others. By involving and empowering stakeholders, you can increase their engagement, ownership, and advocacy of VR and AR in education.

5 Use multiple channels and formats

Finally, you need to use multiple channels and formats to communicate with stakeholders effectively. Depending on your audience, purpose, and message, you can use different media, such as email, social media, website, blog, newsletter, podcast, video, or presentation. You can also use different formats, such as text, images, audio, or video. You can also use VR and AR themselves as communication tools, such as creating VR or AR tours, demos, or simulations. You need to choose the channel and format that best suits your communication goals and your stakeholders' preferences.

6 Review and improve communication

Communication is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. You need to review and improve your communication with stakeholders regularly and adjust your strategies and tactics accordingly. You can use various methods to evaluate your communication, such as surveys, feedback, analytics, or observation. You can also use various methods to improve your communication, such as testing, refining, updating, or expanding your communication materials and methods. You need to keep your communication clear, consistent, and relevant to your stakeholders and your VR and AR learning objectives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?