How Virtual Reality Can Be Used to Create an Immersive Learning Experience

How Virtual Reality is Used in Immersive Learning

In a society where technology plays a significant role in every part of our everyday lives, virtual reality is becoming more prominent across a diverse variety of industries. What was once an expensive luxury is now a commonly used platform that provides individuals of all ages with distinctive experiences.

Let's see how VR and Augmented reality can be employed in the classroom for better learning programs. 

Virtual reality (VR): What is it?

Before we begin, let's discuss what this entails. A computer-generated simulation known as "virtual reality" (VR) allows users to interact with a three-dimensional world while altering their perception of reality. When using a VR headset, you are not physically present in your surroundings, but the experience is so lifelike that it feels as though you are.

These fictitious worlds could be entirely abstract, with exaggerated people and places, or they could be used to simulate a particular real-world experience, like visiting the Vatican or using Google Earth to explore your own neighbourhood. That something so potent can also be an excellent educational tool is not surprising.

When we think of virtual reality, it's easy to picture something far in the future and out of our reach. However, it is now freely accessible all over the world, and people often utilize it for pleasure and recreation.

How does virtual reality operate and what is it?

Virtual reality is a fantastic tool, but how exactly does it operate? Virtual reality headsets typically consist of a bulky pair of goggles attached to a computer and a set of controllers that let the user carry out actions.

However, there are cutting-edge headsets with eye-tracking technology that don't require controllers and standalone consoles that don't need a computer connection. Cardboard goggles that connect to your phone are another type of less-priced headgear that is readily available.

Movement

What makes virtual reality (VR) so wonderful is the ability of the headgear to track the user's head and eye movements and change viewpoint with them. Your movements may be tracked by headsets as well, enabling you to move about in a virtual environment.

This 3D-tracking functionality isn't for everyone because using these cutting-edge pieces of equipment frequently causes motion sickness. Thankfully, the controllers may be utilized to navigate the entire space.

Vision

You might be puzzled how these easy sunglasses can significantly alter your surroundings. Utilizing a three-dimensional perspective allows for this. This functions well because of stereopsis, or the capacity to visualize a three-dimensional shape utilizing visual information from both eyes.Your right and left eyes each have a somewhat different way of seeing things, but when they work together, they give us the same overall perspective for daily living.

On either side of the goggles, two separate images—one for each eye—are displayed, each at the ideal distance from your eyes to create the illusion of depth. Photos and phone screens can never have the same effect as a three-dimensional simulation because we see them as flat pictures.

A genuinely immersive experience also depends on the sound of your surroundings; therefore, no VR headset is complete without headphones, which are often built-in.

Augmented reality versus virtual reality

Before we compare them, let's define AR. Augmented reality, to put it simply, is the use of computer-generated technologies to enhance a real-world experience. Although it may sound similar to virtual reality, the major distinction between the two is that although VR is entirely composed of fictitious data, AR considers your actual surroundings.

Although you might not be familiar with the concept of augmented reality, it's probable that you have seen or heard of it before because it's a component of many popular smartphone apps. With Snapchat, you can create a number of filters that change your appearance or environment using augmented reality. Another well-known AR application is the game Pokemon GO, which encourages players to "catch" creatures in actual locations.

Because it can be used on smartphones and tablets, AR has the potential to be a terrific educational tool and is more accessible than VR. A variety of methods can be used to transform educational content into interactive experiences. For instance, a smartphone can be used to bring educational workbooks to life. This is still an extremely useful and enjoyable tool for students, despite not being as intense as a virtual reality experience.

VR in Education

In this digital age, online and remote learning is growing in popularity, and more people are starting to see the benefits of using an online learning platform. With such significant changes, it only makes sense that we employ technology to maximize the possibilities of the learning environment.

The current wave of lockdowns worldwide has resulted in the closure of numerous schools, colleges, and other institutions. Due to the epidemic, we have been forced to change how we study and learn, with blended learning emerging as the norm. This type of education is likely to endure after the pandemic because it gives students a more flexible approach to learning.

Virtual reality for interpersonal communication

Students' wellness is already being greatly impacted by technology like virtual reality (VR), which offers a virtual collaborative area for them to interact with one another. This platform enables a teacher to monitor a class of up to thirty students at once in a range of entertaining and educational virtual settings.

The capacity to freely converse with others as if they were in the same room as you is one of the most wonderful features of a VR headset. The loss of social interaction between students and peers could be avoided with the use of these chat rooms and social media platforms.

Video conferencing tools fall short of the experience of actually being present among students, despite the fact that these programs do an excellent job of replicating classrooms and playgrounds.

Virtual reality in the classroom

Virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize education, but because headsets are so expensive, it hasn't been widely used in conventional classrooms. Any lesson plan might benefit greatly from the addition of virtual reality, especially as schools move more and more online. Learning is now more fun, secure, and engaging than ever thanks to virtual reality.

In a recent study on the how what, and why of learning, respondents were shown a variety of technological developments and asked which ones they would like to see in education by 2030.

Why is schooling in virtual reality so successful?

According to a University of Warwick study, students were able to recall study material better when it was presented to them in virtual reality. The students in this study stated that after wearing the VR headsets, they felt happier and less depressed than they did after reading textbooks and watching movies.

Albert Einstein once said, "Experience is the only source of knowledge." Learning using virtual reality enables you to experience material firsthand, which is the best way to learn and remember it. Would you want to visit the pyramids or learn about ancient Egyptian myths?

Students can investigate challenging areas and environments that they couldn't otherwise, which can be helpful in a range of topics.

What academic fields stand to gain from virtual reality?

Geography: Virtual reality enables students to travel the world rather than learn about it from books and movies. Immersion in a diverse setting on the other side of our planet is both enjoyable and enlightening.

History: Have you ever had the desire to travel through time to experience life as it once was? With a VR headset, you can do just that; there is content available that recreates historical settings and situations and even lets you interact with historical figures!

Art: Gone are the days when visiting a renowned art gallery required a fee. You can see some of the most spectacular art galleries anywhere on the globe thanks to virtual reality. There are several amazing VR programs that, in addition to letting you virtually tour art galleries, also let you create virtual artwork and unleash your creativity.

Biology and chemistry are only two of the many subjects that may be taught via virtual reality. You can use instructional biology tools to learn about human and animal anatomy as well as to get up and personal with a variety of frightening wild animals. Virtual reality can be used to conduct chemical experiments containing potentially dangerous substances in an entirely safe setting for students.

There are countless other areas where virtual reality could be useful besides these two. There are several resources available that can be used for general research or as part of lesson planning.

Immersive technology has been shown to be useful for educating professionals in a range of disciplines as well as students. The US Air Force uses virtual reality in its pilot training programs. They've even claimed that it helped them to have pilots grasp the fundamentals through cutting-edge virtual reality training.

There are now accessible surgery simulators that provide doctors with a completely realistic experience that is identical to that of real surgery. Haptic technology simulates the feel and touch of real bone, tissue, and muscle in virtual reality medical training.

This application allows surgeons to practice their surgical skills in a totally secure virtual setting. Similar to how viewers can examine the skeletons and organs of animals in greater depth using virtual reality training for veterinarians.

The construction industry is also benefited from virtual reality, which is used to carry out training operations in the safest manner. In addition to being used for safety training, virtual reality can be utilized to present architectural blueprints in greater detail than ever before. Building designs may be examined in great detail, and workers can experience their projects in virtual reality before they start.

It is safe to assume that virtual reality (VR) will become more and more common in the education sector. Reach out to us for any immersive education content requirement.