Using Virtual Reality in the Education Sector
With Virtual Reality being such a unique and developing technology, we’re constantly finding new use cases within industry that it can be beneficial for. From fire fighter training to virtual house viewings, the possibilities and uses of VR are endless. One industry that is beginning to integrate VR across the board is the education sector. Students are now able to delve into the molecular structure of chemical compounds in Chemistry classes, explore historical sites without leaving the school and (most importantly) design and develop ideas in an immersive, 3D environment during D&T classes.
In this weeks blog post, we want to highlight some of the advantages of using VR in the classroom in an effort to encourage the education sector to accelerate the use of the technology. As always, if you have any questions or would like to know more about utilising VR in you’re lesson plans, feel free to get in touch and we’ll be more than happy to support you.
Immersive learning experience
We believe traditional teaching methods often struggle to captivate the attention of students in an age of constant digital distraction. Virtual Reality, however, takes learning beyond the confines of a classroom, offering an immersive experience that captures the imagination of students. There is a selection of visual software available, and thousands of VR ready videos available on YouTube. However, we recommend:
https://expeditionspro.com/ - Preloaded 360° and VR-ready expeditions and tours with the ability to make your own videos via their mobile app.
https://melscience.com/ - Experience scientific experiments at an atomic level with Mel Science’s lessons, labs, and simulations covering the main chemistry and physics topics.
Improved information retention
One of the key advantages of VR in education is its ability to enhance information retention. We believe that when students actively participate in a virtual environment, they are more likely to remember and understand the material taught due to the novel approach. This facilitates a deeper connection with the subject matter, making learning more enjoyable and effective.
Check out this post and study by PwC looking into the use of VR within soft skills training:
Inclusive learning opportunities
Every student learns differently, and therefore there is an increased need for diverse learning environments. Virtual Reality allows for the creation of custom-tailored educational experiences, accommodating various learning styles and preferences. This provides a supportive and effective learning environment for students, regardless of their physical and mental capabilities.
Virtual reality still has some way to go to provide an entirely inclusive solution in comparison to video games. Controllers and headsets are not always compatible for those with limited physical capabilities; however, we believe this will rapidly change over the coming years.
Have a read of this article by TechCrunch to find out more about inclusivity within VR:
How can Mesh Training support your classes?
One of our key values is to support the design education sector, which is why we’ll be working with secondary schools to design valuable and informative session plans at a reduced cost to align with departmental budgets. In parallel with all our other courses, all training will be conducted in-person and tailored to the department’s curriculum.
To find out more about this package, please do not hesitate to get in-touch at info@meshtraining.co.uk
