Education is essential for an individual's growth, as well as for society's social upliftment and economic progress. However, the way, or to be precise, the technique, that is used by any system to transfer the knowledge and information to others is crucial. It determines the shape of the upcoming generation and the society as a whole. Therefore, the teaching method and information sharing have been transformed by changes in generation. In the same regard, new techniques have been adopted in the education method, known as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), since 2018. But what is AR and VR? And what is their scope? Let's find out about these educational innovations and other curious questions together.
What do you mean by Virtual Reality?
Virtual reality (VR) helps alter perceptions of reality. Created with computers, VR embraces an atmosphere to simulate objects and senses, making humans feel that things are in front of them when they are not. This illusory world is created with the help of some technological elements, such as helmets or glasses.
What is the role of Virtual Reality for Teachers in Education?
VR assists in revamping the role of teachers in the current educational scenario. As with VR, the teachers got a powerful tool that helps enhance the teaching and learning process. However, this tool is also new for teachers, making it a bit difficult for them to adapt, and thus, requiring them to improve their previous skills, so that VR can be utilised to its best. Educators can strengthen their teaching methods in the following ways:
- Teachers must improve their teaching skills by using VR properly and participating in teacher training and development.
- Teachers must understand that VR technology is also new to students. Thus, they must adopt empathy and put themselves in their students' shoes to better comprehend each student's needs.
- They can acknowledge the concepts that can be best reached via VR, which will help grab the students' interest and make the idea more engaging.
- Moreover, they can use VR to tailor personalised learning lessons, which is helpful for students as everyone's needs and learning capacity are different.
What is the utility of Virtual Reality in Education?
- Make students interested in education—This innovation in teaching may increase students' interest in education and the learning process, provided that the method is implemented correctly and tailored to an individual's interests and capacity.
- Enhance the learning experience—VR assists in enhancing the learning process for students by explaining different and basic concepts using visuals, such as geometry, which can be difficult for an individual to understand otherwise.
- Helps comprehend things for extended periods—As scientifically proven, the things we see ourselves tend to stay longer in our minds than the concepts learned by reading. Similarly, VR presents various concepts in visual forms, making them interesting for students and creating a long-lasting memory for an individual.
What do you mean by Augmented Reality in Education?
Augmented Reality (AR) is formed with a complex set of technologies that collect various information through your environment, including tablets and cell phones, and finally help you envision different things with technological devices. With the aid of significant components of the devices, such as sensors, cameras, projection, and reflection, AR encrusts sounds, images, videos, and graphics.
How can Augmented Reality be applied in Education?
The implementation of AR is a bit complex, as it involves a series of processes and technologies. However, AR can revolutionise the education system by making learning more accessible, engaging, and interactive. To make better use of AR, it can be applied in education in the following ways:
- Create an alluring learning experience—AR assists students in exploring and transporting them to different historical landmarks, allowing them to interact with the literature's characters or visit different museums virtually. This learning methodology is comparatively more memorable and interactive than traditional classroom teaching, making students more likely to engage in learning.
- Personalise your learning experience—AR is made to adapt to the individual's needs and thus can provide tailored and engaging lessons for students. For example, a student may face difficulties in a specific concept, and now s/he can receive personalised AR-based tutorials to gain more interactive knowledge about the topic.
- Make the learning process fun and attractive—AR can make the learning process fun and appealing by incorporating games, puzzles, and other attractive challenges for students. Hence, this can motivate students to learn different things and enhance their learning skills.
- Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills —AR can also be applied in education to develop skills like critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude, as it allows students to explore complex concepts by manipulating virtual objects and thus become able to make decisions in simulated environments.
What is the utility of Augmented Reality in Education?
- Augmented reality elevates education by introducing innovation and creativity into teaching methods, especially in classrooms.
- Guides and instructional content can additionally be enhanced with applications to create a more rewarding learning experience.
- AR is an exciting way to understand complex topics and helps keep the students engaged and curious in the class.
- Additionally, if AR is applied effectively, it can lower teaching costs and enable educators to present diverse materials in an innovative manner.
Conclusion: The future of innovations
Though both AR and VR help students access unique, valuable, and engaging educational information, the effectiveness of each technique depends upon the individual's specific goals and the learning context. VR is a remarkable tool that offers students an immersive and interactive experience that can transport them to a myriad of environments and historical periods. This technology captivates learners and promotes more profound understanding and engagement by allowing them to explore and interact viscerally with the subjects of their studies. On the other side, AR enriches the real world by overlaying digital information onto tangible objects and environments. This blend of digital and physical realities makes abstract concepts more relatable and easier to grasp, transforming how students connect with and comprehend complex ideas. Hence, both methods are best on their own, but it's just about an individual who wants to grasp the knowledge with which technology.