Making Virtual Reality a Reality

Foote, C. (2017). Mobile Technology Goes Virtual: Using Virtual Reality in Education. Internet@Schools, 24(3), 12-13.

Virtual Reality is coming to Education, and sooner than some may think. Although VR is a new device and needs to be researched for its effectiveness on achieving the results; it's impact in the classroom has already started paying dividends as teachers are starting to see the value in Virtual Reality field-trips.

In the article, "Mobile Technology goes Virtual, Carolyn Foote shows examples of how VR has been used in an Illinois Elementary School. According to Foote (2017), “Students were able to watch Syrian refugees come ashore by boat in Greece or be there to sit in on a class in a small village in an African nation. It truly helped our 7th graders in social studies understand what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes”(p.12). The benefits of have already started to show as the Virtual Reality has helped promote empathy and civic responsibility in the students classroom. The Students from the middle school were so moved by the lesson that they took it upon themselves to have a refugee family in need (Ibid, 12). Virtual Reality allows for students to complete immerse themselves in a world they would never get a chance to visit.

Teachers may see Virtual Reality as the next fad to be replaced by the next big thing. Other teachers might think that it would take too much time to develop lesson plans. The good news for teachers is that companies such as Google, New York Times and Discovery Education have completed lesson plans that teachers can use on demand. The teacher can lead students through these expeditions as well.

Some educators are concerned that there is no educational benefit when it comes to student achievement or growth. According to Foote (2017), "VR content opportunities are only going to grow by leaps and bounds, but we don’t want students to just be consumers. We need to determine if immersive media requires some different abilities and sensitivities, and then help students to also learn to create their own content" (p.13).   Applications such as co-spaces allow students to create these spaces and edit them over time.  

While there are some possible barriers to Virtual Reality such as time, money and training-these virtual reality machines would give students opportunities to experience incredible things and change their lives.  If used correctly, these Virtual Reality machines could actually save a school district a lot of money by saving on field trips and giving the students an immersive educational experience.