How Are VR and AR Shaping the Future of Education?

by Oye Akintan on June 17, 2021

Educators put on various hats at work. They organize learning experiences, assess student outcomes, act as counselors to troubled youth, and create visual aids and materials, among many others. It isn’t easy to become a teacher today. 

On top of traditional concerns like these, teachers also have to integrate innovations like digital or online learning in their plans. Here are some reasons why virtual and augmented reality experiences are the future of education.

VR and AR Help Children Visualize Better

Virtual or augmented reality software enables students to see and manipulate models and simulations they would be unable to otherwise. As more schools adopt VR and AR, more companies will create programs that enrich traditional classroom lectures.

Students can visit faraway places, perform tasks, and get an in-depth view of processes that would typically be out of reach. VR and AR for kids provide them with more interactive learning experiences.

VR and AR Enable Increased Focus

Students today find it challenging to stay focused and concentrate on tasks. According to 2019 data from the American College Health Association, 65.7 percent of college students experience overwhelming anxiety—this figure has doubled over the past decade. This anxiousness contributes to students’ academic difficulties.

The situation isn’t any better when students are younger—statistics show that even children have a hard time staying focused. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a growing trend of children diagnosed with ADHD. Today, more than six million children in the U.S. have ADHD.

Although digital technology can contribute to decreased attention spans, educators can leverage it to their advantage. Integrating VR and AR in learning situations means creating an environment that “forces” students to interact only with the lesson. Using VR and AR for lectures and exercises keeps students riveted and immersed in what they are doing, which gives them a better chance at retaining input.

VR and AR Get Rid of Language Barriers

A common problem in multicultural classrooms, especially at higher levels, is navigating language differences. Students with different L1s than most of their peers might find it challenging to understand the material. They might also experience difficulties with their assignments, which could influence their final marks.

Language barriers are one of the things that VR can efficiently address. VR or AR for kids can easily incorporate language, allowing students with different native languages an equal chance at demonstrating how they understand the basic concepts in their lessons.

VR and AR Are Cost-Effective

 A typical middle school or high school will find it impossible to conduct classes where students can dissect a human heart, build a roller coaster, or visit the Louvre. However, it is possible to simulate these through VR and AR. These tools allow students to experience things that they usually cannot, at little cost to the institution.

VR and AR Allow Learning from Mistakes

A virtual model lets students make mistakes and recover from them without much expense or stress. Since most students are digital natives, they default to exploration when they are in virtual environments, empowering them to control their learning.

Conclusion

Educators will benefit significantly from integrating educational apps for kids, virtual reality or VR, and augmented reality or AR into classroom experiences. VR and AR make teachers more effective—these tools encourage students to participate better and look forward to learning.

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