VR is changing the way we perceive classroom education. It has equipped classrooms with tools that can turn theories into working models, making it easier for students to understand complex topics such as most pertaining to the subject physics. Explaining an atom to a clueless student will definitely improve when teachers can zoom in to an object breaking it down to this smallest unit. Such interactive in-depth learning is one of the reasons why Teachers should use VR in the classroom. It certainly makes their jobs easier and also raises the levels of satisfaction for both teachers and students.
There are numerous reasons why teachers should use VR in the classroom, but we have narrowed it down to 6 essential concepts that help improve the classroom experience.
1. Planning field trips and excursions in the VR environment
The covid-19 pandemic has shed light on the importance of the virtual world. It emphasized the need for alternatives to traditional study resources. Field trips and excursions, which were a major part of a student’s school year, were put on hold due to pandemics. And unlike other digital resources for lectures, schools and institutions weren’t able to find a proper alternative for excursions.
Even without the pandemic, schools and colleges often have a limited budget for field trips, confining students to repetitive local excursions when they want to travel the world.
Educational institutes can solve this issue by using their budget to sign up their students for VR excursions. Initially, educational institutes would have to revamp their strategies by creating a VIrtual Learning space. They can purchase VR gadgets such as VR headsets and sensors to navigate through their excursions. Ultimately, these gadgets are one-time expenses that will be utilized by all their students, transforming the institute’s scope for learning. These learning opportunities will expand your student’s minds, allowing them a chance at an exceptional future.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, Canada, has turned itself into a web-cam marvel. With the right VR headset, students can now see live footage of marine life in the aquariums. These cameras are set up at best vantage points, giving the viewers a chance to see the wonderful sight of jellyfish contrasting with the clear waters.
Visit NASA’s Access Mars, take your students on a journey to the red planet accessible to humans. NASA collaboration with Google has brought this idea to life, providing the world with free access to the imagery of Mars, taken by the Mars rover Curiosity launched in 2011.
2. Offer students the opportunity to quickly learn languages with language Immersion
Language Immersion is an excellent way for a student to learn a language in a disciplined environment. Depending upon the language a student wants to learn, they can register for language Immersion programmes or institutes found in the country where the language is officially spoken. We’ll assume that a student wants to learn french.
Within the walls of the french institute, the students are obligated to speak in french. They’ll all have to follow the rules to become fluent in the language. Such immersive programmes have proven to be successful. Thanks to Virtual Reality, now students, both kids in the schools and adults, can learn languages within the confines of their classrooms.
VR language Immersion Programmes:
1. Virtual Speech:
2. Mondly VR:
3. ImmerseMe:
3. Give Students the opportunity to step into others shoes
It’s high time that schools start focusing on a career-oriented study approach. Statista’s study of unemployed people worldwide states that in 2020 around 220.3 million people worldwide were jobless. And estimates for 2021 and 2022 aren’t any better. The data correlates to the students who aren’t confident in their abilities or passionate enough to approach a good career opportunity. Revamping the entire system might not happen for years. Until then, teachers can focus on alternative means such as VR simulations or scenarios that allow students to witness each career option.
Institutions such as educational institutes and schools can choose to either build their own VR simulator. Or they can purchase ones that are already available on the market. They can hire a VR developer to build a complete career simulator featuring the majority of jobs throughout India. Once the software has been built, they can also purchase the rights to the product, selling it to other institutes throughout the country or overseas. Meanwhile, we’ll share two VR simulators teachers can use in the classroom.
➢ JobSimulatorsGame: Suitable for primary school children, this simulator is more a game that focuses on traditional jobs such as Automotive Mechanic, Convenience Store Clerk, Gourmet Chef, Office Worker.
➢ CareerLabsVR: Suitable for mature students, higher secondary, these VR tools focus on jobs such as Heavy Equipment Operator, Mining Engineer, Pipe Fitter, Robotic Welding Operator, Stick Welding, and Sheet Metal Worker
4. Lessons for Digital Anatomy and Dissection in 3D
Watching a digital feed of anatomy lessons is already a step forward in the right direction. But imagine a future where every classroom is equipped with interactive 3D models of Anatomy. There would be no fear of mishandling the anatomy model. It would last more than a few decades until a newer and more detailed technology comes along.
Higher studies focusing on medicines and dissections are the ones who’ll benefit the most from a VR Anatomy and dissection programme. These VR models can create an exact replica of the human body from the skin. They can show tissues to the underlying layers, allowing teachers to show their students as they are teaching.
Examples of VR medical training tools:
- ➢ 3D Organon
- ➢ Medicine Virtual
- ➢ Dissection Master XR
- ➢ Biological Animal Dissection
5. Encourage creativity by teaching VR
Remember the time when there were no computers or Internet? These technologies have become a part of our life. Few decades into the VR and AI dominance, we’ll wonder how we ever got things done without VR. A future classroom will focus on diversified studies, where technology will be one of the mandatory classes.
But that’s the future. Until then, technological institutes can teach their students about the basics of VR. They can teach them about VR development and encourage them to share their projects with the world. This will allow them to explore their creativity, which will lead them on the road to discovery.
6. Get creative by incorporating VR in all subject Areas
From retail to marketing and tourism, VR is being incorporated by all the top Industries in the world. We are looking at a future with a capable workforce proficient in VR. It is a teachers job to equip their students with the knowledge to make the right decision for their future. It is one of the reasons why teachers need to start broadening their horizons and apply themselves creatively with VR technology.
Anatomy, excursions, and language learning, three topics we have discussed, are examples of how teachers can improve the overall classroom experience. Facebook’s Oculus allows users to download numerous free games and app resources that can be utilized creatively. Oculus features a Google Earth VR experience that can be used as a resource for Geography and excursions.
Furthermore, teachers can also focus on incorporating VR for future athletes. With a VR space, students can monitor their gameplay. They can find out what they are doing wrong and then work on getting better at it.
Teachers have already adapted to digital classrooms, and the day isn’t far that they’ll start using VR in their classroom. It’s not just the students who benefit from these advantages. VR also makes planning lessons a lot easier for the teachers.