Why Education Needs Virtual Reality During COVID-19
As technology has evolved education has constantly struggled to keep up. These days, students in mainstream education often have more powerful technology on their wrist or in their pocket than the teacher has access to at the front of the classroom.
Whether you blame policy, funding or the economy it is irrelevant. The lack of up to date technology in our children’s classrooms impacts their learning. Every teacher I know pushes on regardless. They cope with network failures, internet outages and out of date equipment, yet still provided the highest standard of education they possibly can.
However, in a world where things are now even more restricted; where social distancing and independent learning are slowly becoming the norm, how can we ensure that students are getting an enriched curriculum that inspires them to innovate and create in the future? The video below introduces these ideas [VIDEO]
Could Virtual Reality (VR) be the answer?
- 78% of teachers believe that VR enables experiences that would not otherwise be possible.
Most children have not experienced VR in school. The cost and perceived difficulty to access the technology are two perceived barriers to entry.
With 74% of teachers feeling that VR increases student motivation, is now the time to invest?
Engagement
We have all seen both children and adults glued to the smartphone. It is the main social narrative for many in society these days. Individuals, sucked into a digital world created from 1s-and-0s.
Most parents would complain that children are wasting their time. However, if we can take this level of engagement from their smartphones and transfer it into a virtual experience that is full of value and limits distractions, then isn’t any technology that facilitates this worth investing in?
VR can create a learning experience so vivid, so visceral in nature that any thought of distraction instantly evaporates once the experience begins. Students are not only engaged in the experience when participating, but there is a massive buy-in with students wanting to take part in the VR experience.
Their familiarity with technology makes them willing to give something new a try.
Access
Covid-19 has shut our borders, grounded our flights and moved offices into our living room. We are all feeling the stress and confinement of isolation. So, why do we think our children or classrooms will be any different?
Practical work has been slashed to adhere to social distancing, computer rooms are limited due to cleaning protocols and assemblies can no longer go ahead safely. So, with no field trips, work experience or “activities” days in our children's foreseeable future, how can we provide access to core experiences and enrich the curriculum that we deliver?
By slipping on a VR headset we can eliminate these boundaries to education.
Those that are forced to continue to social distance due to medical conditions or SEND needs such as autism can return to the classroom. Travel experiences that were not possible before can be done from the safety of the school environment. Virtual field trips to the tops of volcanoes or into the human digestive system can level the playing field and keep our students engaged in their learning well into the future. These experiences can also be repeated with ease to maximise retention and facilitate revision. With everyone being able to take part this is a truly inclusive classroom experience.
Experience
Why can nearly every 5-year old tell you what they want to be when they grow up but most 13-year-olds don’t have a clue?
Has education conditioned the imagination out of them or is it just a lack of awareness and experience?
What if we could provide our children with the experience of different roles and jobs before they commit to a certain pathway within education?
Want to be a medic? Let's hop into an operating theatre and see what it is like.
Thinking of being a pilot? Then let's jump into a cockpit and take a flight.
By providing an immersive experience, we elicit an emotional response. With this emotional response, the child is better informed on how they feel about certain experiences and can therefore make better life choices going forward.
Embracing learning using technology during COVID-19 is the only solution
In the last 6 months, most people have seen their learning move online. Our children have had virtual lessons, gym classes have been delivered over Zoom, and cooking classes on Instagram. The pandemic has pushed us into the digital space.
Technology is the future and we need to ensure that schools and teachers are not left behind. Yes, we need to teach our traditional subjects and not forget our traditional teaching methods. However, the next generation will rely on technology in ways that we cannot yet imagine. To not prepare them for this is irresponsible. The more technology we can expose them to the more skills they will have to take into the workplace.
