Just imagine: you are a student sitting in an old-school history lecture about ancient Rome, watching the Colosseum as a dusty picture in a textbook. Then suddenly, the professor announces a virtual field trip using AR, and you are skeptical. But as you don the headset, you are transported to the heart of ancient Rome, feeling the sun’s heat, hearing the roar of the crowd, and even smelling the dust and sweat of the gladiators. It is an experience you’ll never forget, making history come alive like no textbook could. 

In this article, we will dive into the world of AR and VR technology in education, its meaning and purpose, impact, benefits, and challenges, and learn how to apply the technology of VR And AR In education in 2024. 

Implementing AR and VR in education might include some risks, however, the main benefit is worth the hazards because the initiative drives revolution and evolves the modern approaches to learning and teaching, making it interactive, efficient, and accessible for every one from anywhere in the world. 

What is VR and AR?

Perception enhances reality through a real virtuality world sometimes referred to as VR. The user equipment normally incorporates a headset, proper software, and not forgetting, remote controls, which enable you to enter generated virtual settings. In the field of VR, the technology can be used in gaming, education (interactive learning experiences, like exploring historical sites or scientific concepts), training (simulating real-world scenarios for training), entertainment, design, architecture, and more. 

On the other hand, AR or Augmented Reality employs only a part of the technological devices by either augmenting the user’s view of the real world or adding other views that do not exist, thus enabling the addition of virtual features to existing structures. AR is not however an immersive environment as in VR, where objects are exclusively designed and made up of entirely digital content. To engage in AR, you’ll need specialized AR glasses, a smartphone or tablet, a camera, and software that analyzes the captured image and overlays relevant digital content.

Applications of AR can be various: from gaming, shopping, and navigation to education and industrial maintenance.

The main difference between VR and AR lies in their interaction with the real world: while VR creates a completely immersive, computer-generated environment when users are transported to a new world, isolating them from their physical surroundings, AR enhances the real world by overlaying digital information on top of it so users can still see and interact with their physical environment, but with additional digital elements. 

According to the Statista survey of 2020, more than 60% of AR and VR experts in the United States suppose that leading applications of AR and VR technologies in the education sector in the next two years will lead to immersive learning experiences with interactive content and soft skills development and collaboration. Since then, I can confidently say that the metrics have changed for even better. The report proves that 60% of educational institutions are actively exploring the use of AR and VR in their learning programs, resulting in enhanced knowledge retention, improved critical thinking, and boosted creativity, and collaboration. 

Benefits of AR and VR in Education

The times are changing and so is the way how we learn or teach through AR and VR technologies. This innovative and engaging approach to gaining and sharing knowledge has lots of advantages, enhancing the overall educational experience: 

• Personalized learning: the facilitators can craft learning materials according to individual learning styles and pace, making the learning process more relevant and effective.
• Improved understanding: Virtual and Augmented Reality can help in explaining even the most abstract concepts as they provide a visual representation of ideas making them more understandable, and easier to retain which also sparks learners’ engagement and makes learning increasingly interesting raising their interest.

• Hands-on learning: By simulating real-world scenarios, AR and VR technologies allow students to experiment and learn through hands-on experiences.
• Safe and accessible learning: The trainer can provide safe environments where learners practice skills and experiment without real-world consequences and risks. Additionally, they open new possibilities to students with disabilities or living in remote locations where education is not available.
• Collaboration and creativity: AR helps create collaborative projects, where students can work together in a shared space to express ideas. In addition, these technologies can offer new forms of creativity and innovation for students by delivering them with fresh ways to access content from different vantage points.

Practical Use of AR and VR in Education

AR, VR, and beyond bring myriad benefits to the education sector — teaching creativity skills through imagination; fostering student collaboration ability by working together on tasks, etc. The possibilities in the new-age workspace of innovation are only expected to become more exciting and effective with these evolving technologies. Now let’s move to the VR and AR in education examples making and their practical use:

• Product Training: AR can overlay digital instructions directly onto real-world objects, guiding employees through complex processes. When it comes to interactive simulations, VR allows employees to practice meeting and testing products in a simulated environment, reducing the risk of misunderstanding or misuse.   
• Safety Training: VR can recreate dangerous scenarios, such as software malfunctions, allowing employees to practice safe procedures without risk. AR can provide real-time information and guidance during emergencies, helping employees respond quickly and effectively.   
• Customer Service: AR will enable customer service reps to showcase your product or services in a virtual environment obviously heightening their experience and potentially boosting sales. With VR, common client issues can be simulated and discovered to give staff hands-on experience in troubleshooting.
• Soft Skills Training: Through VR, employers can create scenarios where workers practice their communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills in a hands-on way. Without the need for role-playing, VR can create virtual spaces in various cultural settings encouraging empathy and understanding.
• Technical Training: VR can provide hands-on training on complex processes without the need for physical access. The technology overlays maintenance instructions onto real-world equipment, reducing the risk of errors and improving efficiency.   

• Onboarding and Orientation: VR and AR are used to create virtual tours that show new hires around the office and present corporate culture. Additionally, offering dynamic and captivating learning opportunities can improve the overall impression of your onboarding training.   
• Science: By using VR and AR, scientific concepts can be presented more engaging and memorable. By modifying variables, learners can gain a greater understanding of how the concept or idea functions.
• Social studies and history: Virtual field trips and 3D simulations can help bring history to life
• Language learning: Students can practice speaking a foreign language in real-life virtual environments.
• Engineering and design: Students can design and test prototypes in virtual spaces.

In the ever-changing business world, companies may design employee training programs that are more memorable, effective, and entertaining by utilizing AR and VR. The implementation of these technologies has promise for enhancing job satisfaction, productivity, and employee retention.