Teaching and training is always changing, trying to find new, engaging and innovative ways of delivering the desired content. With the advent of Virtual Reality (VR) applications and tools, creating new ways to learn has never been easier. The term education covers a large range of fields, from the military, medical professionals eg Doctors and physicians, pilots, to the school classroom.
The use of VR provides the users with new way to learn either through providing a virtual immersive environment; this approach is currently being used in schools through out Ireland. Students are being taught how to create 3D worlds that can be view and experienced via the Oculus Rift headset. The virtual worlds are based on material covered during History lessons to reinforce what they are learning. It has been noted that the students are also learning valuable skills such as project management, problem solving and attention to detail. This is all achieved through the use of virtual reality. Please click here to view the video below to see a report on the scheme.
Not only are the students learning the subject matter in an immersive and interactive way, developing valuable soft skills but it has been noticed that this project helped students facing social issues. “Additional evidence which wasn’t published to the site, pointed to especially positive outcomes for individual children from ethnic minorities, or with learning difficulties, or experiencing problems at home…” (Corbett in Abrosimova, 2014)
Long distance learning is no longer the problem it used to be, with the aid of computers, internet, smart devices, e-Learning, etc. E-Learning is being used in large corporations, health services and education, it gives the users the chance to learn in their own time and free from the class room environment. A problem that can arise from e-Learning is that the content can be unengaging and quite static. With the aid of virtual reality to create interactive content and learning tools this problem can be solved. For example a 3D sculpture of a building or room may be used to reinforce a point. Within an architecture e-Learning module, the user can see an actual visualisation from multiple angles and have the ability to move around it. ‘This program allows students to learn through their own exploration and research of selected virtual objects using a variety of interactive learning activities. It is active learning by discovery, as opposed to merely passive learning.’ (Valdez, 2013). Valdez found the benefits of VR within an e-learning environment when creating a virtual laboratory for electrical engineering.
There are many tools to create said 3D models including 3D Studio Max and Sketch up.
Another way in which virtual reality is being used as an educational tool is through the use of simulations. “Virtual reality began as a training tool for pilots, and flight simulators are still among the most popular virtual reality training programs.” (Yount, 2005) Simulators provide a cost effective way for the user to get the training and experience they need. ‘They are very effective and are used in areas where the only alternatives would be the actual system, which would be far too dangerous.’ (Vince, 1998). It is not just the flight industry that takes use of simulators; the medical profession has found great use for them. Simulators offer surgeons an opportunity to practice intricate operations or learn specific skills such as keyhole surgery without the risk to a patient. It is not just surgeons that can benefit from VR environments, the company Vertual (http://www.vertual.eu/home/) provide solutions for clinical and education settings. They create 3D models of complicated machinery such as CAT scanners. The users can move around the 3D model, viewable with special glasses, and interact with the different functions. These solutions give the users a head start on a device they may need to use in a professional environment. Critics have noted however that although VR simulators are helpful, they cannot replace real life experience.
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