Taking teaching into virtual world – Virtual reality in education – India Today

Technology is taking over our world. There is a tangible impact that technology is applying to most all aspects of our lives. Education, is no different. And while a few naysayers might point out the pitfalls of technology in education, if used in moderation, the benefits, to my mind, far outweigh the negatives.

We have witnessed Smart Classes and the effect of the Internet on education already. Now the paradigm is evolving to include Virtual Reality. However, before we move on to the ways in which Virtual Reality is shaping education, let us first get a basic understanding of what Virtual Reality is. Using Computers and Technology to create a stimulated environment is the most commonly accepted definition. Typically, VR is experienced hands-on, by wearing a VR Headset that puts the user front and center of the action - quite unlike viewing something on a screen. In the VR world, the experience is palpable, tangible almost, and it is extremely immersive. It is like being at the Zoo, rather than watching a video, of the Zoo.So what are some of the ways in which VR is beginning to make its presence felt in the realm of education?

Taking teaching into virtual world - Virtual reality in education

Perhaps the greatest contribution of VR in education comes from augmenting the learning experience. And this holds true across subjects and academic disciplines. Until now, learners have been reading and learning, watching and learning. There is a 'distance' between the learner and the lesson. Unless learners physically visit a time & space (which isn't always possible due to distance, inaccessibility, time, money constraints), there is a disconnect between what is being learnt and the student. There is a limitation on how, and how much, the student can truly 'experience' what is being taught. With VR, this has begun to change, and change dramatically.

Taking teaching into virtual world - Virtual reality in education

Imagine a scenario where a group of students is studying Indian History, Mahatma Gandhi's famous speech, for instance. It is one thing to listen to the speech and read its transcript, and it would be an altogether more alluring experience if those students where to be physically present at the time and place of the speech, the latter created using computer technology and lived through Virtual Reality! This kind of 'environment-generation' and placing learners in that world is already taking place, and every stream of academics can take advantage of it. Imagine being able to be in space and look down at Earth!

The travel through time and space through Virtual Reality can also be used as a great tool to acquaint, orient, and sensitize learners with the problems that plague our world and our society. A VR environment and that hands-on experience can, for example, serve as a reminder of the brutal impact of Global Warming, by journeying learners to the melting Polar ice caps. Similarly, by taking learners to marginalized communities in less-fortunate countries can help them develop not just awareness but also a genuine sense of empathy and thankfulness for their own privileged circumstances, a value sorely lacking in many children these days. Many issues can be brought to life this way, and the impact of a VR experience is lasting and profound.

The limit of experiential learning has been capped at simulated 3D environments. However, with virtual reality, there is really no limit. Imagine a child trying to learn about shapes, of cubes and rhombuses. One the one hand, they can watch videos or see diagrams of these hitherto unknown objects, sometimes leading to confusion in interpreting them correctly; on the other hand, with VR, they can be literally placed within the object, leaving them to touch, feel, experience, and permanently grasp it, from a completely different and altogether more realistic perspective. Such, is the power of VR in education, to bring concepts to life in a never-before seen way.

Taking teaching into virtual world - Virtual reality in education

Because VR has the ability to create or recreate most any imaginable environment, a lot of confusion and apprehensions, incorrect perceptions with regard to certain professional sectors & industries can be addressed effectively. Say a learner is considering working in Films because it seems very glamorous. That learner may not have the opportunity to experience a film-set first hand. He or she can, now, with VR. And perhaps even change their mind when they see that the reality is quite contrary to their ill-informed perception!

Finally, the biggest benefit of virtual reality technology in my view is that it has the immense potential of putting fun back into education and learning. Students these days are tired and under pressure. They have just too much to do, achieve, accomplish and prove. With VR experiences, not only will they learn better, they will have a lot more fun doing it, a facet of education that seems to have reduced, tragically, dramatically.

Technology needs to be used responsibly. If as educators and care givers we can strike the right balance between technology and traditional learning, technology will enable us to greatly enhance the learning experience. VR is leading this revolutionary charge.

Authored by Kartik Bajoria - Writer.Educator.Moderator

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Taking teaching into virtual world - Virtual reality in education - India Today