Blog 6 - Week 6 - Virtual Reality 360°

Virtual reality technology has changed the way students learn and interact with the information in the classroom. It has become an essential tool in promoting creativity in the classroom but providing hands-on experiences with different scenarios. With virtual reality, students can explore and experience different environments that otherwise would be impossible to access (Helsel, 1992). This technology allows students to immerse themselves in a world of their own creation where they can experiment with new ideas and concepts.

Virtual Reality promotes creativity by providing platform for students to express themselves freely and encourages them to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems. Additionally, VR technology allows students to collaborate on projects and share ideas in real-time which enhances their communication skills.

VR can be used to cater different learning styles among students. Visual learners use 3D visuals that helps them stay engage and creates a sense of excitement while kinaesthetic learners use this tool to interact creatively in the virtual world. One key disadvantage of VR is the cost of equipment (The VR glasses and station) and the software may be prohibited for some schools or institutions and not all subjects or topics are suitable for VR simulations (Helsel, 1992).

Virtual Reality 360°

With VR 360, students can explore different parts of the world, visit historic sites and even travel through time. This technology provides an opportunity for students to engage with their lessons on a deeper level by allowing them to experience what they are learning first hand (Pirker & Dengel, 2021). Teachers are able to create virtual simulations with the help of VR 360 to practice real-life scenarios and develop problem solving skills.

This assists in creating a high level of engagement in the classroom including active participation and higher motivation to learn. Therefore, this improves the teaching process. The 360 video is available with a spherical view and creates a nice, realistic interaction with the virtual world (Lampropulos et al., 2021). This provides a deep mental involvement and active participation from the students which increases effectiveness of eLearning. It promotes peer interaction as after the VR experience they are able to share their thoughts and experiences which sparks imagination and creative thinking.

In conclusion, VR 360 encourages exploration, experimentation and collaboration among students. As technology continues to advance, educators must embrace these tools to enhance student outcome.

References

Helsel, S. (1992). Virtual Reality and Education. Educational Technology, 32(5), 38–42. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44425644

J. Pirker and A. Dengel, "The Potential of 360° Virtual Reality Videos and Real VR for Education—A Literature Review," in IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, vol. 41, no. 4, pp. 76-89, 1 July-Aug. 2021, doi: 10.1109/MCG.2021.3067999.

Lampropoulos, G., Barkoukis, V., Burden, K., & Anastasiadis, T. (2021). 360-degree video in education: An overview and a comparative social media data analysis of the last decade. Smart Learning Environments, 8(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-021-00165-8