Meet The Future of Learning Experience: Augmented (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Augmented and virtual reality are definitely big trends in today’s e-learning environment. You must have heard a lot of things about these two terms, yet you might not be entirely sure how they work, what they provide, and what’s the price that students have to pay in order to use them.

In today’s post, we’re going to explore the meanings and uses of the VR and AR technology. We’ll also see how they’ll severely influence the e-learning industry in the nearest future, so pay attention and take some good notes.

What is VR?

VR (virtual reality) is a 3D, computer-generated environment that allows human beings to become fully engaged in a different reality, which often feels as real as the real world. When you wear a sophisticated VR helmet, you lose contact with reality and become immersed in a totally different, programmed, virtual world.

You can see, hear, and lately, you can even feel physical stimuli. Pain, joy, anger, compassion and so much more! When it comes to learning, the stimulation of senses in a controlled environment will make a huge difference and will bring great improvements.

The Uses of VR in Learning

VR has a lot of good uses when it comes to learning. These benefits become available not only to the traditional classroom but also to beginner practitioners in different professional fields. Here are some of the uses of VR in learning:

• The healthcare industry benefits the most as young medical practitioners can now improve their train to master the most complex procedures. The doctors can do mistakes and not risk people’s lives, they can get better at what they do while experiencing their jobs in incredible ways.

• Compliance training, for example, is another area in which the VR industry has already left an impressive mark. VR tools are especially used in safety training, where practitioners can experience different procedures and feel different consequences on their own skin.
• In schools and academical institutions, virtual reality helmets can be used for many applications. For example, teaching math, physics, or chemistry through visual cues will definitely improve the student’s learning performance. Basically, with a bit of creativity, every possible field of education can be enhanced.

What is AR?

AR (augmented reality) will also provide learners and students with a complex environment that they can engage with to expand their knowledge and skills in different areas of expertise. Because the augmented reality technology aims to deliver similar benefits as the VR technology promises to, the approaches are different.

Here’s how Tom Campton, IT specialist at Best Dissertation, describes the experience of AR users:

“When the learner engages in an AR experience, the context and the situation in which he’s in is also present and taken into account. In simpler terms, the user doesn’t travel into a different reality. Instead, he’s enhancing his present reality by altering his perception, visual sights, auditory perceptions, and other important sensory stimuli.”

The Uses of AR in Learning

AR is also an extremely applicable tool that allows for a better learning. Here are some features of this amazing technology:

• Augmented reality environments are also safe, meaning that the users will be able to practice without being afraid of failing or hurting other people.
• AR allows students and learners to share their deepest personal experiences and collaborate with each other. AR allows learners to see what other users are seeing or hearing without being present at the physical location.
• The manufacturing, the healthcare, the product service, the induction training, the academical environments… Augmented reality is on top of all these markets. The technology is being used right now, as you read this post, and it continues to grow at incredible speeds.

Pros of Virtual/Augmented Reality Classrooms

Well, here is a short list of the benefits that VR and AR classrooms bring:

• It can often provide HQ visualization of every imaginable topic.
• Improves the interest, motivation, and retention of students.
• Improves the engagement of the students.
• Makes learning feel like playing.
• It can help learners understand and comprehend information like no other human or technology could.

Cons of Virtual/Augmented Reality Classrooms

And like they say, everything has a price. Here are some of the CONS of VR/AR classrooms:

• Disconnects us from nature, making us, humans, more dependent on technology. Instead of using our own complex brains, we create complex machines that alter our perception and reality.
• It can often individualize the learning experience, cutting off any connections with colleagues and teachers.
• No stability. When a VR or AR tool gets errors, the entire academic schedule will be delayed or interrupted until the problem is fixed.
• These technologies come with a heavy price. At this moment, they’re truly expensive not so many students and learners can afford it. But, in time, the prices will drop and we’ll soon experience an even more significant industrialization in most of our professional and academic sectors.

Conclusion

Both virtual and augmented reality grow and develop at fast speeds. They’re expensive, but they’ll soon become easier to grab. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or college principal who’s currently assessing whether an investment in this technology will truly be productive for your long-term learning experience, I’d say it definitely will.

If you don’t have to sell your car to do it, if it’s something reachable, I’d say it’s worth the shot because, at this point in time, it’ll surely bring you a strong competitive advantage in whatever thing you do.

About the author:

Steven Wesley is a creative writer and ESL teacher. He is interested in public relations, tech and educational issues. Besides, Steve believes in the mighty power of the pen to change the modern world. Feel free to drop him a line on Twitter and Facebook!