{"id":834,"date":"2017-04-04T14:09:12","date_gmt":"2017-04-04T19:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.victoryvr.biz\/?p=834"},"modified":"2022-07-06T09:38:13","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T14:38:13","slug":"the-promise-of-virtual-reality-in-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.victoryxr.com\/the-promise-of-virtual-reality-in-education\/","title":{"rendered":"The Promise of Virtual Reality in Education"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rene Gadelha<\/em><\/p>\n

Revolutionizing Education<\/strong>
\nVirtual reality (VR) has the potential to revolutionize education as we know it. Specifically, it immerses students in their learning more than any other available medium. It blocks out both visual and auditory distractions in the classroom and has the ability to deeply connect students with the material they are learning in a way that\u2019s never been possible before. To say it\u2019s revolutionary may be underselling VR learning.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that schools are striving to create technology-rich environments, but these must be deliberate, with focus on learning and the curriculum; it\u2019s not enough to simply equip schools with computers and tablets. Most kids are exposed to technology, mainly for entertainment and communication purposes; it\u2019s changed the landscape of how they view the world. Schools should embrace kids\u2019 enthusiasm for technology used for entertainment, and leverage that into technology used for infotainment\u2026enter VR. In order to be successful in a traditional learning setting, however, the VR content must be meaningful, engaging, and navigable so that the learning sticks.<\/p>\n

Why change?<\/strong>
\nEducation pedagogy needs to evolve to meet students where they are; individualized instruction for each learner is the ultimate goal. Yet in many schools across the country, we\u2019re still applying the old factory model of schooling that has been around for nearly a century: students in rows, content disseminated homogeneously, and the \u201csage on stage\u201d mode of teaching that promotes memorization, recitation, and regurgitation on tests. Demands on workforce readiness and post-education expectations require education to embrace a change. VR has the potential to dramatically shift how teachers teach, but more importantly, how learners learn.<\/p>\n

For years now, schools have employed whiteboards, projectors, computers, tablets, gaming devices, and the like not only to deliver curriculum, but also to advance it. VR is appropriate for all students and specifically would benefit those with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other learning challenges because of its immersive qualities and engaging content. The sheer fact that many school districts now have a dedicated technology budget is proof that tech is here to stay.<\/p>\n

A Seismic Shift<\/strong>
\nAs a former teacher, curriculum writer, education consultant, school board director, and parent, I\u2019ve seen much of what surfaces in schools\u2014successes and failures. Without a doubt when done properly, I believe VR will seismically shift education going forward. It\u2019s not enough, however, to simply put students in front of a computer and have them perform the same tasks. If we\u2019re viewing students as individual learners\u2014which we should\u2014then we need to allow these learners flexibility in educational pace, path, and content control, which can be accomplished through a robust VR curriculum.<\/p>\n

Quality VR<\/strong>
\nHow do you judge quality in VR content? It\u2019s important to consider for the following elements:<\/p>\n