Stepping Into the Future: Virtual reality in education and what it means for students
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
Remember when the thought of smartphones and smartboards in classrooms felt like something from a sci-fi movie? Fast-forward to today, cell phones have become normalized and Virtual Reality (VR) has become a focus in education.
Meta recently announced its plans to bring VR into the classroom for students as young as 13. In movies such as, “Ready Player One,” users can be seen navigating through different worlds without ever even leaving their homes. In many ways, Meta imagines a similar reality, but in the classroom.
When schools switched to virtual learning in 2020 due to COVID-19, the need for it soared. Today, 59% of schools have at least one device for every student. New York City spent $360 million on 725,000 devices just for remote learning.
As virtual reality devices such as the Apple Vision Pro and the Meta Quest jump into the picture, VR looks to join the ranks of widely used educational tools like iPads and Google Chromebooks. This change brings a new era of hands-on learning, from immersive history lessons to interactive science simulations. VR offers a new dimension of learning experiences that engage students in new ways and showcase the power of technology when used for good. As schools look to implement this futuristic tool, it’s important to consider how VR can best serve educational goals while addressing the diverse needs of students. Let’s dive in.
The role of experiential learning in VR
Recently, Meta announced their hopes to integrate VR technology into the classroom.
“We are moving with immense, strategic patience,” shared Meta’s President of global affairs, Nick Clegg, in an interview. “As a general philosophy in our company, what we want to do is to try and encourage the use of this technology.” Meta has not yet announced their specific plans to integrate VR into school communities, but Meta’s expenses this year are expected to go from $94 billion to $99 billion, with most spending going towards infrastructure needed for VR and AI tools.
By embracing immersive experiences, VR has the potential to captivate students in unprecedented ways previously unimaginable. Combined with cutting-edge AI tools, such as the rise in ChatGPT, these advancements pave the way for personalized learning experiences, opening up innovative pathways to academic achievement.
The introduction of immersive technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) has opened new frontiers in education, offering students immersive and interactive learning experiences that transcend traditional classroom boundaries. And with new technologies developing every day, it’s important for educators to stay ahead of the curve to provide students with the most effective and engaging learning experiences possible and prepare them for a tech-fueled future.
AR, applied through smart devices, overlays educational text and lesson-specific content onto the user’s actual surroundings, creating interactive and meaningful learning experiences. This technology allows students to interact with their environments while learning. For instance, a history lesson about ancient civilizations could entail a virtual trip to Mesopotamia. Students can explore the streets, buildings, and monuments of this historical civilization as if they were walking through it in real life. They can observe daily life, interact with virtual artifacts, and even witness historical events through immersive simulations. For many students, this type of “experiential learning” has proven to be extremely beneficial. In fact, research shows that learners who actively participate in class are more likely to achieve higher levels of learning.
Although still developing, research has already backed VR and AR technology as strong educational tools. A 2019 report from EdTech highlighted a study in which students in a mixed-reality biology classroom achieved higher scores compared to their peers in traditional learning environments. By harnessing experiential education, educators can bring abstract concepts to life, making complex subjects more accessible and engaging.
In addition to this, VR may also be able to accommodate diverse learning styles. Whether students excel visually, prefer hands-on activities, or thrive in collaborative settings, VR offers immersive experiences tailored to a broad spectrum of learning preferences.
While VR has the potential to revolutionize learning by offering immersive and new experiences, ensuring equitable access to VR technology is paramount, as disparities in access could widen existing achievement gaps. Educators can consider how VR can complement, rather than replace, current teaching methods, ensuring that it serves educational goals while catering to students’ diverse needs.
For educators, it is important to recognize that integrating new technologies such as VR represents an evolution in teaching methods and is just another valuable tool in the educational toolkit. This prepares students for success in a technology-driven world and fosters creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Collaborative learning and creativity in VR
As Meta sets its sights on integrating VR into classrooms, it ushers in a new era for collaborative learning, an educational approach where students work together towards shared learning objectives through active participation and cooperation.
Studies underscore VR’s ability to immerse users in virtual environments (VEs), creating a sense of being physically present despite the virtual nature of the environment. Within these immersive VEs, students can simulate real-world scenarios, engage in collaborative problem-solving activities, and blur the lines between reality and simulation.
Additionally, VEs serve as a platform for interactive group work, discussions, and cooperative learning activities, effectively bridging the gap between learners and educators separated by physical distances.
VR is particularly unique because collaboration can be facilitated by educators in whatever manner they would like. For example, if a lesson on the role of collaboration in bridge-building is necessary, it can be designed within VR by an educator or an outside party. If an educator would like to design a presentation within VR, this is entirely possible as well. Studies even show that educators using VR use to design virtual presentations in around 20% of cases.
As new technologies like VR continue to advance, educators can leverage collaborative learning to cultivate deeper engagement and foster innovative educational experiences.
Understanding the uniqueness of VR
As the world of VR expands, its potential, especially in education, continues to grow.
Clegg shared that the VR educational product is driven by teacher demand, referencing a 2022 report showing improved student performance in the metaverse version of Morehouse College compared to in-person attendance.
With this growth comes the opportunity for educators to not only adapt to new technology but also harness the power of tech for good, in ways that set students up for success and fuel their well-being. By harnessing VR, educators can nurture collaborative learning environments that transcend physical boundaries, providing students with innovative and new learning opportunities.
Here are some tips educators can use to feel better equipped to navigate the rise in VR:
- Understand the Technology: Before implementing VR, educators can familiarize themselves with the technology, including its capabilities, limitations, and best practices for use in educational settings. This understanding will help form the bedrock for meaningful learning experiences for students.
- Sync with Learning Objectives: Integrate VR experiences that align with specific learning objectives and standards. Begin with simple VR experiences and gradually increase complexity based on students’ comfort levels and readiness. This approach allows for a smoother transition as VR tech evolves and helps students and educators adapt.
- Consider Accessibility: Ensure that VR experiences are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities or learning differences. Consider factors like physical accessibility, sensory considerations, and alternative options for students who may experience discomfort or limitations with VR.
- Monitor Usage and Feedback: Regularly assess the impact of VR integration on student learning outcomes. Collect feedback from students regarding their experiences with VR and use this information to refine and improve future VR activities. This feedback can be used to design future lessons in VR.
All in all, Meta’s push towards VR opens the door for a powerful new wave of educational opportunity through immersive experiences, personalized learning, and collaboration in the classroom.
Interested in learning more about how The Social Institute can help guide your school through new technology and empower students to navigate it positively? Request a demo of our peer-to-peer learning platform that uses a positive, student-first, and proactive approach.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
How can we, as students, explore using virtual reality (VR) to make our classroom learning more exciting and understandable? Do you think VR could help us grasp complex ideas better or make learning more interesting? Share your thoughts and ideas!
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.