Key Point:
Incorporating virtual reality (VR) into the classroom may be easier than you think. With growing demand and innovation in the field of VR technology, now may be the perfect time to incorporate virtual reality into your everyday teaching. What was once experimental and cutting-edge technology has now gone mainstream.
Before we dive into why and how integrating virtual reality can lead to success in the classroom, let’s first define what virtual reality is and how it’s similar (and different) from other recent technologies.
What are VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality)?
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, virtual reality refers to “the use of computer modeling and simulation to enable humans to interact with artificial three-dimensional (3D) visual and other sensory environments.” This is achieved by wearing a headset equipped with a screen and lenses that trick the brain into feeling the depth of the 3D environment. The technology allows users to look around and interact with a digital three-dimensional space as if they were actually there.
Similar to virtual reality, augmented reality (AR) is “the process of combining or ‘enhancing’ a video or photographic display by overlaying useful computer-generated data onto the imagery,” according to Britannica. Unlike VR, which puts the user in a digital 3D environment, AR simply overlays images and information onto the user’s real-world environment. AR is a useful technology that deserves its own article and analysis, but we won’t get to that here.
Why use virtual reality in education?
Experiential learning is a concept that has been around for a long time in the world of education. A quote attributed to Confucius succinctly explains the concept:
“Hear and forget. See and remember. Do and understand.”
Experiences, especially hands-on learning experiences, can be powerful opportunities for students. It’s one thing to learn a concept in a textbook, but another to see that concept come to life. While it may not be possible to take your class on field trips to as many locations as you’d like, virtual reality may open the door to more experiential learning opportunities. While an in-person field trip may cost thousands of dollars for your school, an equally enriching and interactive virtual reality experience can be had for a fraction of that cost, and often for free. With these virtual field trips, students can visit a variety of locations, from sending slime into space to innovative makerspaces and manufacturing, and the opportunities are virtually endless.
A recent study compared two groups of students in an art appreciation course: one that followed a more traditional learning model and one that incorporated virtual reality. Students who used virtual reality to view and interact with artworks were more engaged in their studies and ultimately performed better.
And the students of the future may already be incorporating virtual reality into their lives. Recent studies show that one in three teenagers owns or uses a virtual reality headset. When blogs first appeared online, teachers responded to this technological advancement by blogging with their students. The emergence of short-form video content on many sites has inspired teachers to design short instructional videos. It’s time for virtual reality to adapt to where students are now.
Integrating virtual reality is easier than you think!
Now that we know what virtual reality is and why it can be a great addition to a teacher’s classroom, let’s look at how you can make it accessible to your students.
At first glance, there are a lot of virtual reality headsets on the market that may daunt teachers. Models range from $500 to $3,000, making it seem impossible or unfeasible to bring virtual reality into schools and classrooms. But the solution is quite simple and may already be in your pocket. For just a few dollars, you can turn your smartphone into a VR headset using a product like Google Cardboard. With up to 91% of 14-year-olds owning personal smartphones, teachers can use virtual reality in the classroom with little financial investment. Students can download a virtual reality app on their smartphone, insert it into the headset, and jump right into VR.
There are also many grant and funding opportunities available, including from ClassVR and the National Science Foundation. I remember my mother, a teacher and innovator for over 30 years, applying for grants to be one of the first schools in the city to have a computer lab. In today’s world, you could take advantage of one of these grants and be one of the first in your district to implement virtual reality.
Final thoughts
Reaping the benefits of incorporating virtual reality into the classroom may be easier than you think. With grant funding, phones in students’ pockets, and the low cost of virtual field trips, you might be taking a virtual field trip sooner rather than later.
Schools may not have the budget for multiple field trips per year, but virtual reality can provide students with experiences that wouldn’t be possible any other way. As an innovator, you can meet kids where they are. The opportunities are virtually endless.
Sam Schwiebert, Middle School Language Arts Teacher
Sam Schwiebert is a middle school language arts teacher and technology lead in Minnesota who enjoys finding new and innovative ways to use technology to enrich student learning.
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