With the years gone by, education has evolved to a great extent. Advancement in technology has benefitted every field which includes the education department as well. In the field of education, the use of technology is beneficial to both, the teachers and the students. It helps the students to grasp concepts because they can visualize the lecture. Furthermore using technology helps the teacher to explain with ease.
What is VR in education and its Benefits?
Virtual reality or VR is a computer-based technology that provides visual, tactile, and oral stimuli of the virtual world generated in real-time. It is achieved by isolating the user from the real world thus creating the immersion effect giving a feeling of being present in a virtual world instead of the one they are actually in.
Immersion is the concept of being present in a virtual world. The perception is created by surrounding the user with images that create a very absorbing environment. Thus the user feels as if he exists in the virtual world instead of the real world.
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It has wide application in the training department and is used to train individuals or in the film industry to create special effects however, it has not been used in education commonly. But it is getting popular in this sector and it is, without doubt, the future of education as it has brought education to a new level. Adopting it can benefit the education sector and can make difficult concepts easy to understand. It has several advantages such as
- It increases the knowledge of students and clears away any confusion that the student may have regarding any difficult topic.
- Virtual Reality creates an environment where one can focus on the lecture and the virtual representation creates great focus and there are no distractions
- You can experience the lecture actively and it is not merely passive information being pass onto you
- It increases the interest of students towards any boring subject; they can learn the boring lecture quite easily and perform well in exams.
- The teaching skills of teachers are also increased they can teach their students in a much better way.
- It gives the students a virtual tour while they are seated in their classrooms.
- VR also saves a lot of time as the difficult topics can be easily explained.
- It also increases the student’s imagination and creativity.
Virtual Reality helps:
The use of virtual reality in education is helpful for the students and teachers equally. In contrast to traditional learning methods, VR allows students to learn through experience. The use of VR in education enables students to see and experience various locations within the classrooms and it is a source of inspiration to students. It inspires students to study well in their respective subjects.
Moreover, due to the immersion effect in VR, it enhances the imagination of students which ultimately helps to clarify their concepts. The traditional method of teaching is quite boring but VR can help engage the students towards the lecture.
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VR can also provide the students with an ultimate travel experience it saves both time and money and you can experience a visit to any place you prefer within your classroom.
Lastly, VR is also a memorable experience, it is an experience one can cherish throughout their life, it may not be used widely today but it is indeed the future of education due to the unlimited benefits.
The Benefits of AR and how it has transformed the education industry
In augmented reality, technology augments the real world around us. It is done by overlaying the virtual objects over the real image. The AR objects are created by 3D modelling. Augmented reality enhances the abilities like problem-solving to prepare students for the future.
The use of AR in education engages the students in learning new things. The students can spend more time in their respective curricular subjects and minimize the time that gets wasted in learning how to use the technology.
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The interactivity of students along with their engagement towards the lecture will enhance the student’s ability to remember what they will learn. Thus they can develop skills faster in comparison to the traditional learning methods, specifically in some areas such as reading, spatial concepts, content creation, and real-life scenarios.
With AR the learning experience becomes extraordinary as it enables the teachers to show virtual examples of the lecture. It also includes a gaming element that can make the lectures fun, interesting, and effortless.
Moreover, improve a student’s capabilities in learning and grasp their attention towards learning. Along with its use in the education industry, it is also used in various industries such as aerospace and military. It aids to train soldiers mainly on how to use the equipment accurately this is done to ensure their safety while training.
The use of augmented reality in e-learning is an effective learning system. Individuals can gain knowledge due to a visualized environment. Furthermore, it can replace books and textbooks, it is easily available and is budget-friendly and it is accessible to everyone, anywhere and anytime.
Apps used for AR and VR:
In AR apps the user can either watch the virtual objects or interact with them, either rotate them or zoom them. To establish an AR system in your educational institute, you will firstly require a setup this includes an internet connection; mobile devices and an AR app.
Know more: Role of Augmented Reality in Mobile Applications
AR and VR use the same hardware technologies and share lots of factors such as computer-generated virtual screens, 3D objects, and interactivity. VR replaces the real world whereas AR supplements it. AR can be used on a smartphone or tablet and doesn’t require any special devices to program.
Certain apps are available which the students can download to get AR or VR in education. There are some plug-and-play apps available such as quiver which is a 3D colouring app. Anatomy 4D is an educational app that covers the topics of chemistry and anatomy. Some VR apps include Jaunt VR and alt space VR