VR for Education – The Future of Education | VR Immersion (2023)

What is Virtual Reality Learning?

Virtual reality, or VR, is gaining traction in education as more schools embrace the technology.

VR allows students to experience destinations around the world without leaving the classroom. Imagine if students could explore the Pyramids of Giza sitting at their desks. This allows education in virtual reality.

Most people have heard of Virtual Reality (VR), but not many people know what it is or how it is used in learning and learning.

VR refers to interactive content (images or videos) that allows the viewer to explore the 360 ​​degrees of a scene.

Watch a short VR video of Roche Abbey in Yorkshire below. You can click or drag the video to view the entire scene.

How it works?

A type of VR known as 360VR is most commonly used in education. In this type of VR, real places are captured with cameras and special devices. The footage is then brought back to the studio where it is converted into VR content.

VR content can then be viewed in so-called immersive classrooms on VR headsets or projected onto walls.

The 360VR can be used in education to teach students about the world around them. Additionally, virtual reality has the unique ability to inspire and engage students.

Students can experience places that would be impossible or too expensive to visit in person. In this way, VR can open up new possibilities for teachers and schools.

How can Virtual Reality improve education?

Virtual reality can enhance education by providing students with immersive and memorable experiences that would otherwise not be possible. Also, anything can happen in the classroom.

VR is accessible to all students and can be easily monitored by teachers. Virtual experiences have the power to engage and inspire students in unique and powerful ways.

Given the growth of VR in education and the positive response from schools, we wouldn't be surprised if VR enters the curriculum at some point in the future. Oriented and structured curriculumVR lesson planshave already been developed and are available in the UK.

How can virtual reality help students?

There are many ways that virtual reality can help students, but the key points are below:

1. Students learn best through experience

VR offers students the opportunity to learn through experience, as opposed to traditional reading and writing methods.

2. VR can inspire

Being able to see and experience extraordinary places within the classroom is completely unique to VR and inspiring for students.

3. VR stimulates imagination and encourages creative thinking

The immersive experience that VR provides is unparalleled in the classroom. Students are “transported” out of the classroom and let their imagination run wild.

4. VR in education encourages interaction with peers

Throughout the VR experience, students are encouraged to interact with each other. They then happily share their thoughts and discuss their experiences.

5. VR employs students

Many students get bored with traditional teaching methods. Modern VR technology captures students' attention like nothing else. We've found that students want to experience VR right away.

6. VR offers realistic travel experiences

With the help of VR, schools can offer students travel experiences that would otherwise not be possible or practical. Schools can save time and money while providing amazing experiences for students.

7. VR in the classroom is included

With VR, all students have equal opportunities to enjoy the experience. Unlike traditional school trips, which can be too expensive for parents or impractical for children, VR is suitable for all students.

8. VR offers unforgettable educational experiences

Long after the VR is over, students remember the experience and are eager to reflect on it in future classes.

Implementing VR in the classroom

There are two main methods in which VR is implemented in the classroom: VR headsets and immersive classrooms.

What is an immersive classroom?

One of the most common and effective ways to use VR in education is in virtual reality classrooms or immersive classrooms.

An immersive classroom is a teaching space in which images are projected onto the interior walls of the space. This creates a virtual environment in the classroom.

Students can be “transported” to another location without having to leave the classroom. Without virtual reality glasses, students can enjoy the experience together and are encouraged to interact with each other.

Unlike virtual reality headsets, which some students find difficult or uncomfortable to use, immersive classrooms are suitable for all students. Students can enjoy VR content in a more familiar environment.

VR headsets in the classroom

Virtual reality headsets are a common and practical way to implement virtual reality in the classroom. With minimal cost, equipment and space requirements, more and more schools are turning to virtual reality headsets.

A classroom of 30 students typically requires up to 15 headsets. Typically, these headphones are standalone, meaning they don't need to be connected to another device, such as a computer.

Teachers are taught how to use the headphones before they are used in the classroom.

The main benefit of VR headsets is the level of immersion they provide. While they can be a little more difficult to use than immersive classrooms, they offer an incredibly realistic experience. An experience students will not soon forget.

VR in primary schools

VR can be used effectively in primary education and is becoming more common in the UK.

Immersive classrooms tend to be more popular than virtual reality headsets in primary schools. This is because each student can be easily monitored and young students do not have to learn to use headphones. This ensures that the experience is smoother and more equal for all students.

Students are invited to look around and talk about what they see. This provides opportunities for students to collaborate and can especially improve interactions among more introverted students.

Breaking down social barriers at an early age is extremely important and one of the reasons many elementary schools are embracing VR.

Virtual reality in high school

In high school, virtual reality headsets tend to be more popular than immersive classrooms. Because the effect on older students tends to be greater with headphones.

As the entire field of view is closed, the feeling of immersion with a VR headset is unrivaled. Also, unlike elementary school students, high school students are better able to use headphones, requiring less teacher input and guidance.

By using virtual reality headsets, teachers can give high school students the feeling of really being “there” – that's what we mean when we say immersion. For many students, this is an incredible experience and something that really needs to be experienced before being judged.

VR for students with learning difficulties

VR can be great for students with learning difficulties. Students can learn about the world around them in a safe and controlled environment.

As with elementary school students, immersive classrooms are the most popular form of VR to help students with learning difficulties.

It is not uncommon for students to have difficulty using virtual reality headsets. With an immersive classroom, teachers can make lessons much more normal. Students can still look around and explore the virtual environment, but they can do so in a familiar way without feeling self-conscious.

VR has proven to be helpful for students with autism. A study by Strickland et al. (2007) showed that children with autism were able to apply skills learned in a virtual environment to the real world. This included fire safety and road/traffic safety skills. 🇧🇷Those ones

What is a virtual education field trip?

A virtual field trip allows students to experience a place in a memorable and immersive way using VR. Without permission, teachers can take students to amazing places without leaving the classroom.

Watch a short montage video we captured at Roche Abbey in Yorkshire below. You can click or scroll the video to explore the entire scene.

This type of content can be viewed in a VR headset. Using virtual reality headsets, students can realistically experience a place, moving their heads to look around and explore their surroundings.

What are the advantages of virtual tours?

Virtual field trips are among the most common ways VR is used in education and offer many benefits to students and schools.

Virtual field trips are affordable

Almost every student enjoys a school trip, whether it's to a museum, a memorial, or even another country. Unfortunately, many students fail to try them out for various reasons. This could be due to deficiency, cost, or transportation issues, among other things.

With VR, all students can enjoy the same field experience for free. This level of inclusion with 100% attendance is simply not possible with traditional tours.

Virtual field trips are cheap for schools

Schools can save time and money by offering travel experiences without leaving the classroom. While many schools still don't see virtual field trips as a replacement for real school trips, the trend is definitely towards VR.

As school budgets get tighter, the cost savings associated with travel, tickets and time cannot be ignored. Aside from initial setup costs and minimal teacher training, virtual field trips are largely free. Also, teachers don't have to spend time writing and getting permits.

Virtual field trips not only reduce the cost of field trips, but also allow students to experience places that would otherwise be too expensive and impractical to visit in schools. Now it's possible for the whole class to experience the Colosseum.

The value that virtual travel can bring to schools is enormous. While they may not completely replace regular travel, they can reduce the need for them and provide an additional experience for students at an affordable cost for schools.

Virtual field trips are immersive and engaging

Virtual school trips offer a welcome change from traditional reading and writing. They can be used to interrupt a topic or introduce a new one, and they help keep students' attention.

Additionally, many teachers understand the importance of offering a variety of teaching methods to help students learn in different ways. Not every student learns well from traditional classes, and VR offers another great way to engage students.

learning about an environment

When it comes to learning about an environment, there's no substitute for being there. While regular images and videos are much better than text, this is where VR really shines. During a virtual field trip, students really feel like they are there and get a better sense of scale and environment.

This could be learning about history and visiting a monument or learning about the environment and visiting a wildlife sanctuary. The possibilities are really endless. Virtual content can be adapted to the lesson plan and topic, allowing teachers and schools to control the narrative.

Allowing students to imagine a place with a realistic experience often helps spark their interest in a topic. Previously unattainable environments can be brought to life in the classroom.

Virtual tours and climate change

Virtual field trips are one of the most effective ways to introduce students to one of our biggest challenges – climate change.

While there may be no substitute for science when it comes to climate change, getting students interested in science can be a real challenge.

By transporting students to places like the Arctic, they can begin to feel a connection to the environment. This can help students understand and address important issues like global warming.

VR Immersion and Education

At Immersion VR, we produce VR content for schools across the UK. We shoot on location in destinations around the world.

We've seen the growth of VR in education and are excited about its future. Inspiring the younger generation is something we want to be a part of at Immersion VR.

We produce content for immersive classrooms and virtual reality headsets. With many years of experience in the sector, we are able to adapt our offers to the needs of the school.

VR educational content can be produced to fit the lesson plan and curriculum. We offer help and advice wherever possible to help schools make the most of VR.

If you would like more information, please complete the contact form below.