Most people have heard the name VR, but somehow don’t know about VR or how it is used. So, VR has an increasing number of platforms that use it. Virtual reality in education is reshaping the future of education and its platforms to enhance learning, engagement, and procurement. With the advancement, VR has taken place in classrooms from gaming and entertainment. VR relates to interactive content with 360-degree exploration. If you talk about education with the help of virtual reality, students can take virtual classes from their homes.
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual reality is a technology that creates a virtual world where you can see and gain experience through headsets. Virtual reality for education provides a computer-made world. Virtual Reality gives experiences like real life. When we use VR in education, a student wants to know about ancient Egypt. They can walk through the pyramids and what the lifestyle of people thousands of years ago. They need only VR headsets to explore the environment.
Benefits of VR in education
Virtual reality in education can help students in interactive classes. The benefits that students have with the help of using VR in education.
Enhanced Engagement and Motivation
Students can struggle with traditional learning methods that are used from past eras. VR provides an engaging and immersive environment. Learners quickly capture from this environment. Challenges, rewards, and engaging simulation elements of gamification make learning interactive engaging, and enjoyable.
Experiential Learning
VR enables students to experience learning about historical events, explore the human body, or travel through space. This VR approach provides a deep study for learners to improve their understanding, attainment, and test scores up to 20%.
Boosting knowledge retention
Virtual reality fully engages students and focuses their senses on the teaching topics. With the help of VR in education, learners set a clear mindset and adapt the knowledge easily. They improve the knowledge by up to 70% with these VR learning methods.
Safe and Controlled Learning
Virtual reality in medical education such as Medical training, chemistry experiments, and many other studies requires a practical assessment. Virtual reality in online education provides a risk-free space where learners learn things and practice them without risk. After learning, they implement it in the real world.
Inclusivity and Special Education
Normally, people talk about VR, the question arises How is VR used in special education? VR is particularly very helpful for students with disabilities. VR helps students with autism develop social and communication skills. VR is transforming special education by being inclusive, with immersive experiences. It is customizable for different abilities, real-life skills, and boosting engagement.
Personalized learning
Virtual reality can provide for learning styles according to their needs, offering experiences that allow students to progress. It can be useful for students with special educational needs, providing an adaptive learning space.
How is VR used in education?
VR can help in teaching for different schools such as virtual reality in medical education, history, art and design classes. It helps in:
1. Science
- Explore the solar system and walk on planets.
- Travel inside the human body to see how organs work.
- Perform chemistry experiments in a virtual lab.
- Understand physics by seeing how forces like gravity work.
2. History
- Take virtual field trips to the pyramids of Egypt, and the Taj Mahal.
- Watch historical events virtually.
- Meet historical figures and understand how people lived in the past.
3. Mathematics
- Visualize 3D shapes and geometry.
- Solve problems with interactive models.
- Play fun math games that improve logical thinking.
4. Geography
- Fly over mountains, rivers, and continents.
- Study weather patterns, volcanoes, and climate zones.
- Explore maps and landscapes in a 360-degree view.
5. Art and Design
- Paint in 3D using virtual brushes.
- Create sculptures or buildings using VR tools.
- Visit famous art museums around the world.
6. Language Learning
- Practice speaking with virtual characters.
- Explore countries where the language is spoken.
- Play interactive grammar and vocabulary games.
Real-life examples of Virtual Reality in Education
Real-life examples of virtual reality for education are given below:
1. Google Expeditions
It allows students to virtual trips across the world. It will help to learn about the countries. Virtual reality apps for education will help teachers to guide students.
2. Unimersiv
Unimersiv platform offers virtual content for subjects. Students can visit every history of the incidents, and activity.
3. VictoryXR
VictoryXR is used in American schools for science labs, historic events and other subject content.
4. Labster
Labster is a virtual lab that students can use for practicals. It helps in chemistry, biology, and physics practicals with safety.
5. Engage
It is used in virtual classrooms, events and meetings. This platform conducts 3D interaction, live classes and group projects.
What is Virtual reality in Education?
It is a 3-D virtual class where teachers can interact with students through the avatars. Students visit their campus classrooms and interact with digital objects in the metaverse in university education, as students can do in real-life classes and on campus. Met education provides interesting classes with an immersive experience. It will be full of interaction and fun.
What can VR be used for in education?
Virtual reality apps for education are used through many tools and devices:
| Tool / Device | Purpose / Use | Examples |
| VR Headset | Allows students to enter and interact with the virtual world | Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, Google Cardboard |
| Computer / Smartphone | Powers the VR experience and runs educational applications | Windows PC, Android phone, iPhone |
| VR Controllers | Let students interact with virtual objects | Oculus Touch Controllers, Vive Controllers |
| Educational VR Apps | Provide subject-specific content like science, history, or math simulations | Google Expeditions, ClassVR, Anatomyou, Tilt Brush |
| High-Speed Internet | Needed for downloading VR content and accessing online VR platforms | Wi-Fi / Broadband Connection |
| Teacher Control Platform | Helps teachers guide VR sessions, manage student progress, and assign activities | ClassVR Portal, zSpace Teacher Dashboard |
| Charging Station | Keeps devices charged and ready for use | Multi-device charging carts or docks |
| Comfort Accessories | Increases comfort and hygiene during use | Head straps, face pads, cleaning wipes |
Conclusion
The virtual reality in education is changing the perspective of learning. They offer interactive, immersive experiences that are not possible in traditional methods of study. Whether it is a virtual science laboratory, language practice, skill-based learning, or many more, VR gives life to education. As technology advances, virtual reality will become very general in study institutes with proper learning. For this new world to be safe and successful, it requires systems that guarantee security, trust, and simple ownership. It is a profitable experience that engages people.