Inefficiency, high cost and lack of interest from students are just some of the problems of education in today’s realities. In fact, the efforts of many stakeholders are aimed at solving these problems. The application of cellular network technology (4 and 5G), artificial intelligence, digital technologies are believed to revolutionize education. However, the technology that would definitely beat all others is virtual reality.
Virtual reality, which stands for the technology that allows expansion of the physical space of human life by objects created with the help of digital devices and programs. It helps to create an environment that is perceived by the individual through the organs of sensation. Virtual reality will simulate conditions that are comfortable for obtaining new knowledge considering the specifics of the learning subject or skills. Just imagine: instead of listening to the teacher’s explanations about the construction of Egyptian pyramids, students will be able to go on an excursion while sitting at a desk and see the construction process or even walk through tunnels with sarcophagi. If this description is not enough to understand the revolutionary nature of technology in the educational sphere, let’s consider major positive influences of VR on education in details.
Here is Top Three Revolutions that will follow the introduction of VR technologies:
1. Education for Everyone.
The availability of education is one of the most significant problems in this sphere. For many decades sociologists have argued that socio-demographic background of the individual determines his or her access to the educational facilities both in terms of their level (primary, secondary, higher) and quality. But the implementation of virtual reality will reduce inequalities since each person will be able to achieve the same types of knowledge without geographic or social boundaries. Such a utopian future has been repeatedly pointed out in various fantastic works. It can be stated that the closest concept was described in the book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, where students attended virtual school and library staying in their homes. However, now such a description does not seem to be something from fiction about a distant future.
Moreover, the technology of virtual reality can be applied to various stages of education. The example described in the introduction referred to school education, but there are already practices of using VR in higher education. Michael Bodekaer (an entrepreneur in the sphere of innovative technologies) his TED speech described how technology can be used to create a fun and engaging experience for adults. On the basis of simulation platform Labster, a simulation, where the students have to solve a mysterious CSI murder case using their core science skills, was created. So, this technology allows transforming education into interaction form for all ages of students.
2. Better Communication
This point refers not to bringing something new, but rather to improve existing practices of using digital technologies in education. Virtual reality can serve as a classroom without need to move geographically and making communication more effective. Plus, it removes the need for video calls or long-term communication through emails that is common practice for people who practice distance education.
It also should be remembered that each communication happens in a certain environment with various types of noises – that is why according to estimations people hear only about 60% of their interlocutor’s speech. Virtual reality, on the other hand, allows isolating dialog and make communication more effective. Moreover, according to Dr. Lukasz Porwol, the use of virtual reality will reduce the potential biases: “…there could be a bias based on ethnicity or an attraction to someone in the room – you might not act, but it affects the interaction. With VR, you can remove those things, so there’s nothing about that way they look, and you can focus on the conversation alone…”
3. Great Experience and Practical Knowledge
In his reasoning about the ways in which virtual and augmented reality can democratize education, Alan Smithson stated: “Some people learn through audio, some through video, but everyone learns through experience.” And the experience is definitely a forte of virtual reality technology. It provides an immersion into the studied subject or conditions, which improves understanding and practical skills.
On a par with how technology improves and deepens the knowledge of students themselves, it can save money as well. Giving examples from his experience Michael Bodekaer mentioned advanced simulation for laboratories, which conduct cutting-edge cancer research. It was proved that letting students conduct virtual experiments before practice in the real laboratory will help universities to save millions.
Do we really need VR in education?
The answer is definitely Yes. In fact, we have already experience the democratization of education. There are a lot of educational tools available to anyone via the Internet:
•Educational platforms (TEDEd)
•Online courses (Coursera)
•Cheap writing services (WritingCheap.com)
and this path should be continued.
Moreover, the statistics confirmed that VR demonstrated improvement in students concentration by six times. Also, a study on the basis of Stanford University and the Technical University of Denmark revealed a 76% increase in the learning effectiveness of students activity when using virtual laboratories compared to the traditional teaching methods. The results can be explained by the absence of distraction. There is no Facebook, Smartphones, Chats, sometimes even colleagues – only a student and science. Isn’t it perfect?
