A Vision for the Future of Virtual Reality in Education

Virtual Reality (VR) is slowly taking over our entertainment industry. But what are the implications for other areas of our lives, such as business, health, and even…education?

While the educational realm generally takes longer than anyone else to embrace new technology, VR brings many implications for the schools of tomorrow.

Here are some ways in which VR might change the face of education in the future.

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

Virtual Reality Could Transform Education as We Know It

Virtual reality has been on the radar since Morton Heilig's Sensorama in the 1950s, and head mounted versions of the technology were even around in the 1960s. But it wasn't until recently that its use has become less of a novelty and more of a commonality. Console games and smartphone adapters have brought the potential of virtual reality into the lives of everyday people. And soon, that technology will enter the classroom.

Now, the big question is how these emerging technologies will transform education as we know it. While that question might not be fully answered for some time, it is easy to see the potential.

The Covid-19 Pandemic Is a Crisis That Robots Were Built For

All Learning is Personalized Learning

4 Key Benefits of Remote Learning

The global COVID-19 emergency has disrupted the lives of millions of people, including students and teachers: schools are known to be breeding grounds for illnesses and shutting them down was only logical.

But in education, as in theater, the show must go on: that is why teachers are turning to remote learning as an alternative. Distance learning has been around longer than most people realize, but the current state of emergency is forcing a faster pace of change for which many are ill-prepared.

Like most novelties, remote learning may cause distrust among teachers who do not know how to use its full potential, so here is a brief list of the key benefits of remote learning.

What Will The Classroom of The Future Look Like?

Plenty of science fiction authors have asked this question and there are as many answers as there are writers: some have even imagined a future with no classrooms at all, where all children learn from home with a machine as a teacher and consider traditional school an alien concept.

But that particular future is unlikely to come true: as much as AI is growing and studying from home is becoming an increasingly popular solution, education still requires some form of human contact and technology is a tool, not a replacement.

Even so, technology can reshape the design of the classroom and the core philosophies of teaching and learning in significant ways: let’s explore how.

Keeping Students Engaged in Digital Learning

[VIDEO] Whether you’re new to teaching online or a veteran, these six tips can help you make sure your students stay connected and immersed in learning. Middle school teacher and project-based learning coach Heather Wolpert-Gawron offers excellent suggestions for managing classrooms online.

How to Use Virtual Spaces for Remote Learning

Jaime Donally, an ed tech consultant and FETC® featured speaker, says educators and students can collaborate, create and connect in these 360-degree environments

Photo by Frank Vessia

Hospital uses VR to show how the coronavirus impacts the lungs

Doctors at George Washington University Hospital are using virtual reality to uncover the damage caused by COVID-19.

What is The State of Virtual Reality in The Classroom?

Virtual reality sounds like a far-off futuristic concept. When we hear the words “virtual reality” we may think of people wearing big helmets that transport them to another location from the comfort of their home (or classroom). However, virtual reality is slowly becoming a reality in the classroom. It doesn’t look quite like what you might imagine, but it is improving all the time.

The potential benefits of virtual reality in the classroom are endless. Students from schools all over the world could have access to the same resources and experiences through virtual reality, creating an even playing field like we’ve never seen before in education. Students could use virtual reality to travel back in time and see history come to life, or to take field trips to far-off locations that would cost hundreds to travel to in real life.