Technology has become a necessary element of learning in the modern world as more education facilities adopt digital teaching methods, such as interactive whiteboards, class blogs and game-based teaching.

In the near future, we expect most classrooms also to adopt virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology to simulate objects and environments, which will help children learn, as education is forecasted to be the 4th largest sector for VR investment by 2025.

VR is a computer-generated environment, perceived through a headset or helmet, that appears to be real. The immersive environment and virtual touchable objects make it easier to remember information and use knowledge in practice.

While VR is entirely virtual, AR uses real-world settings enhanced with computer-generated visuals through smartphone apps or AR Glasses. The latter is an up-and-coming tool that will layer data and graphics on top of what we naturally see.

How AR and VR can be integrated into school subjects

Using VR and AR in the classroom can increase memory power and knowledge retention, boost excitement and engagement, and reduce distractions.

VR and AR can also create safe, controlled environments to support students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

About 93% of teachers said that their students would be excited by welcoming VR into their classrooms, so here are how some school subjects could adopt VR and AR into their lesson plans:

Maths

Using AR apps, such as Shapes 3D, students can build and measure 3D shapes anywhere they like including the classroom. This allows students to learn about each shape’s complex dimensions and properties through a digital device.

Math Ninja AR can make maths fun for younger students by incorporating physical movements such as stretching, bending, squatting, crawling and reaching to find the answer.

Geography

VR headsets allow students to explore anywhere in the world, including the Seven Wonders, the Louvre Museum, the North Pole, Machu Picchu, the Moon and Mars.

Using the National Geographic Explore VR app, students can understand how different factors can affect the geography of a location, investigate how different environments can affect how people interact with them, and examine how economics and trade differ across the world.

Literacy and Languages

VR can transport students to fantasy worlds or the scene of their book to inspire their writing or make it easier to understand a story they are reading.

AR-powered apps, such as Mondly, allow students to learn a new language or develop their existing language skills with the help of a virtual assistant. Using AR, these apps can tailor their learning plans to suit each student’s needs based on their strengths and weaknesses.

Physical Education

Whatever the weather, VR headsets can bring the sports field to the classroom so that students can practise their techniques, develop teamwork skills, and learn more about a sport and those who play it.

Science

VR apps can transform the way students learn about human and animal anatomy.

Students can virtually hold a human heart, inspect cells, and tour the human body using Complete Anatomy 2023. They can also dissect a frog and examine the body without harming an animal using VR Frog Dissection.

History

Similar to the transporting powers of VR in Geography classes, students can also use the technology as a time machine to observe significant world events, visit historical sites and immerse themselves in different eras.

Through the King Tut app, students can also view and investigate a range of historical artefacts up close, such as an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, Tutankhamun.

Art

VR allows students to visit famous art galleries, such as the Louvre in Paris, to see sculptures and paintings up close. It also lets students explore other art forms, such as street art.

Students can use art AR apps to create their own art and discover emerging art forms, such as 360 photography and sketching. World Brush allows students to paint by moving their device through the air, whilst Assemblr lets students create highly detailed 3D objects.

Future of Technology in the Classroom

VR and AR are empowering students to take learning beyond the classroom by offering lessons and experiences that would not be possible without these technologies.

By integrating traditional teaching methods with immersive technology, educators are on track to revolutionise how students learn and explore their world.

Through immersive and engaging experiences, VR and AR give students a greater understanding of course material and helps them to build soft skills such as leadership, time management and teamwork.

With the technologies rapidly developing and becoming more available, it’s just a matter of time before education facilities adopt VR and AR into their lesson plans.

If you enjoyed this article, why not check out Essential Skills in Social Work?

Featured image: Tirachard, iStock. 

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Today, eLearning Inside welcomes contributing writer Neve Wilkinson. Neve is a content writer and outreach specialist at Solvid Digital. She specialises in travel, lifestyle and technology.

Access to a smartphone or the internet in a world now driven by digital technologies can significantly benefit children and young people. Digital interactions are almost indispensable in the modern world, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic introduced online learning.

Here are the ways that digital technologies, including smartphones and the internet, can offer opportunities and improve the developmental, emotional, physical and social well-being of children and young people.

Developmental Wellbeing

Children and young people who have access to digital technologies can benefit from a range of opportunities which will aid development. These opportunities include:

Learning important thinking, people, time management, organisation and problem-solving skills. This could be playing mobile games which require thought, or socialising safely online.

Having access to online learning platforms, such as Duolingo to learn a language, or BBC Bitesize, to learn Maths, English and Science.

Becoming exposed to different opinions and worldviews, rather than being sheltered by the beliefs of those around you.

Gaining the digital skills that a child will need later in life to complete everyday tasks, including work, homework, household administration or financial management.

Emotional Wellbeing

Children and young people, over time, can learn to manage their emotions to survive and flourish in difficult or unpleasant situations. These are the ways digital technologies can help:

Online hobbies or artistic tools can offer opportunities for creativity and self-expression.

Information about mindfulness-based activities such as meditation or yoga, which aid anxiety or offer a distraction, can be found online or monitored via mobile apps.

Social media groups, specifically those of particular interest, can allow children and young people to speak openly about something that interests them.The internet and social media can offer exposure to positive role models such as athletes or authors.

Digital technologies can offer opportunities to engage in enjoyable activities such as gaming on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Physical Wellbeing

Everyone needs to be able to exercise to feel healthy and happy. However, using digital technologies can also aid physical wellbeing in many ways, including:

Offering the opportunity to maintain a healthy balance between inactive (sitting down, staring at a screen) and active (going outside, doing exercise) behaviours.

Developing new physical skills by watching people online, for example, home workouts on YouTube.

Learning more about a sport or physical activity online, such as researching the rules.

Allowing those with disabilities more freedom by offering them access to supportive or assistive technologies such as reading pens.

Creating easy access to information about healthy lifestyle choices, such as learning the food groups.

Using the internet or social media to meet like-minded people and set up local sports groups such as a five-a-side football team.

Social Wellbeing

It is essential for social skills and development into adulthood that children and young people can participate safely and effectively in society and interact with everyone, from family members to those who are not personal friends. These are the ways digital technologies can help:

Allow a child or young person to build closer relationships with those who offer care and support, such as friends from school.

Offer opportunities to help and support others by guiding them on a homework task or inviting them to join your sports club.

Access to online communities of people with similar interests.

Having the ability to understand and get involved with those in other communities, and not just your bubble.

However, allowing children and young people to access the digital world also comes with concerns. It is crucial for a parent, guardian or professional to monitor who a child or young person is speaking to online to minimise the risks of bullying, grooming or being catfished.

It is also vital to know what websites and apps children and young people are accessing to avoid them being fed misinformation and biased political or religious views, and to ensure they are not filling in any information that could lead to them being hacked.

Finally, it’s essential that a child or young person isn’t ruining their self-esteem and confidence by comparing themselves to social media influencers or gaining unrealistic expectations of life and how bodies should or shouldn’t look.

What’s Next?

Virtual reality (VR) tools will commonly be used in classrooms to simulate particular objects, processes, or environments to learn from the curriculum.

VR creates an immersive environment that makes it easier to remember information and use knowledge in practice whilst being part of the metaverse.

Here are three ways children will learn through the power of VR:

In Science class, students will join an educational VR Frog Dissection virtual reality experience which allows them to dissect a simulated frog and examine the body without harming an animal.

In Geography class, students can wear VR headsets to explore any continent via Google Expeditions, which allows them to visit the Seven Wonders of the World, the Louvre Museum, the North Pole, South Africa, the Moon and Mars.

In History class, students can use VR technology as a time machine to understand different ears and observe significant world events. Thanks to a VR film produced by BBC Northern Ireland and Immersive VR Education, students can now join the aeroplane crew to find out how the Lancaster bomber’s Berlin mission took place in 1943.

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Featured image: metamorworks, iStock.

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