In a digital age where technology is at its peak, more and more sectors are choosing to use the latest technology to aid their work and learning. With the advance of technology, we can benefit from a wide range of sophisticated tools and software, one of which is virtual reality; an immersive digital tool opening doors to infinite opportunities.
Virtual reality is a concept we have collectively adopted as a fun and unique way to experience gaming and other aspects of the digital universe. In particular, VR has piqued the interest of the educational sector in Dubai, with many schools already using virtual reality in the classroom- sparking children’s imagination in an originally captivating way.
As the craze of virtual reality spreads across the educational sector in Dubai, how exactly can it be used in the classroom? Furthermore, how will this benefit students now and in the future?
In this article, we will delve into the world of virtual reality, learn more about what it is, and how exactly in can be used within the educational sector. In a time where technology is advancing at a rapid rate, students are benefiting from a fruitful selection of trailblazing technological tools.
School for Modern Skills advocates for a unique way to learn, harnessing the values of technology, innovation, and creativity. We strongly believe each student can benefit from a technology-focused learning environment, helping them strive for total academic success. For more information about our school, get in contact with us today.
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual reality has taken the gaming industry by storm in recent years. The advanced technological gaming medium stimulates a computer-generated environment in a breathtaking 3-dimensional format.
Experiencing a specially developed environment in 3D allows participants to explore and interact with objects and surroundings by wearing a specialized virtual reality headset. Once the headset is put on, users are immersed in a fully interactive environment where they can manipulate objects and perform actions; the aim of virtual reality is complete immersion.
How Can Virtual Reality Be Used in Education?
There are many ways that virtual reality can be used in an educational environment. Children are likely excited by the prospect of bringing such technology into the classroom, whilst it emulates the sense of gaming with many educational benefits at the same time.
Field trips are often a hallmark part of the school experience for students. Embarking on a trip outside of the classroom enables children to gain first-hand insight into a topic they have been learning about; further enforcing the knowledge base they have build through theoretical learning. In some cases, a field trip may not be practical for logistical reasons including cost and distance. Virtual reality brings the location to the classroom in an immersive simulation that allows students to experience it as it would be in person.
For example, virtual reality could facilitate some of the following immersive virtual field trip locations:
- Historial buildings
- Historial remains, for example, Roman remains
- Tours of different facilities
- Monuments and landmarks in other countries
- Plus many more
The possibilities for a location with virtual reality are endless, allowing students to explore a series of educational parameters from the confines of their classroom, not only offering a positive learning experience but also injecting excitement into the process.
What Are the Benefits of Using Virtual Reality in Education?
The humble virtual reality headset has opened doors to a world of opportunities for students of all ages in education facilities. By igniting creativity and sparking a passion for learning, virtual reality shows the potential to be a welcome addition to the school curriculum in Dubai.
Improved Engagement
Offering an engaging learning experience is key to captivating the attention of students and motivating them to learn effectively. The use of virtual reality creates a unique learning experience by boosting engagement through the exposure to a multimedia experience; something young people are naturally drawn to in the digital age we are present in.
Increased Collaboration and Teamwork
Virtual reality has the ability to boost the need for problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. It opens the door to the prospect of collaborative group projects where students can work as a team, actively improving their collaborative skills in a fun-driven manner.
Improved Knowledge Retention
Learning new knowledge is only half of the task. Finding ways for students to effectively retain knowledge is essential when it comes to academic success. Building a solid knowledge base allows students to develop it further throughout their educational career.
Due to the immersive nature of virtual reality, increased engagement allows students to learn in a memorable way, further contributing to the amount of knowledge they are able to retain in the long term.
Accessible and Affordable
Virtual reality can be accessed through a specialized headset or through a smartphone or tablet device. This makes it easily accessible and affordable within schools that may already use tablets and smartphones. In the digital age, most students can actively use a smartphone with ease, which will contribute to the ease of use of virtual reality software. Therefore, it is less likely to hinder students by being difficult to use.
Immersive Learning
Virtual reality offers many benefits to the education sector including the ability to expose students to the real world. Immersion through virtual reality can take you anywhere in the world without physically leaving your location. This level of immersion is exciting and fun to students who may otherwise be learning from a screen or through a textbook.
What are the Disadvantages of Using Virtual Reality in Education?
Virtual reality is undoubtedly a fun and exciting addition to the classroom, however, there may be limitations to its use and functionality. It is wise to understand the limitations of virtual reality as well as the benefits.
- Functionality issues- in a world where modern technology is rife, technical errors are unavoidable, and often things can go wrong. This means that VR software may not always be readily available due to technical issues, meaning it could hinder lesson plans or cause disappointment.
- It can become addictive- like with any technology or gaming software, it can become addictive to the user. By exposing children to virtual reality they can become addicted to the excitement that comes from using it. To avoid this, use should be limited and monitored accordingly.
- Data and security concerns- with any form of digital software, you will likely have to input personal details and different forms of data. This could become an issue if data and privacy policies are not followed and it later results in a breach of security or data.
In Summary
Virtual reality is actively being used in schools across the United Arab Emirates, especially in Dubai where students are benefitting from the immersion and fun of virtual reality software in the classroom. VR ignites a newfound passion for technology and learning by encouraging children to work with one another to solve problems and gain new knowledge through a fun and innovative learning model.
The accessible and inclusive nature of virtual reality means that all students can gain something from the use of the software, whether they have limited exposure to such tools or whether they consume gaming and VR material outside of school. Nonetheless, each child stands to benefit from improved engagement, problem-solving skills and collaboration with their peers by learning in conjunction with virtual reality software in the classroom.
School for Modern Skills
School for Modern Skills, based in Dubai, provides excellent standards of education through learning in pioneering educational facilities where technology, innovation, and creativity are at the heart of the school’s ethos.
After winning two awards for innovation from EduTeach, the School for Modern Skills continues to provide students with a variety of facilities and benefits including a robotics program, onsite I Hub, medical care, sports activities and transportation.
Moreover, our students can benefit from an exclusive partnership with local universities to discover more about the use of artificial intelligence and its benefits.
Each student at School for Modern Skills is recognized for their excellence and championed to become the best version of themselves through academic success in an inclusive learning environment.
For more information on our school, or to discover our inquiry process, get in touch with our team today to take a step toward academic excellence for your children.
