Virtual reality in education: how it is changing the way we learn

Virtual reality is undoubtedly here to stay. What until just a few years ago seemed like a science fiction concept, today is already a reality that involves each and every one of our daily activities. Initially adopted by the leisure and entertainment industry, then by the cultural sector and, soon after, by the rest of the professional activities, virtual reality has stealthily and steadily brought with it a technological revolution. A clear example of this can be found in the area of education. The way we learn is a far cry from what we knew just ten years ago. Books or notes take a back seat to virtual reality as the true protagonist of teaching. If you want to know how virtual reality is changing the study habits, not only of children but also of the great professionals within companies, pay attention because you are just one step away from discovering it.

Virtual reality: a before and after in the education sector

Before getting into the subject, it is worth refreshing a little on the comics of virtual reality but, above all, at what point it began to gain real value in society. Probably none of us will forget what began to happen in a part of the planet in December 2019. Many of us thought, that this new virus, unknown to all, which monopolized all the front pages of the major newspapers or the main news of the news, would not spread to the rest of the international territories. The reality was that, barely two months later, it began its conquest by leaps and bounds all over the world. Before we knew it, the number of infections was shooting up faster than gunpowder. Death began to take on an apotheotic force that, without pity or remorse, snatched lives without warning and, those of us who were lucky enough to avoid it, ended up locked up. Small and large businesses began to see their foundations shaken by the lack of workers or customers as a result of the confinement. Education seemed to stagnate. Leisure and entertainment in public places evaporated, not to mention the cultural sector.

Undoubtedly, the pandemic marked a before and after in our society. Not only as a method of learning on a personal level, insofar as today we value our freedom of movement or we have become aware of how important it is to hold on to life and take all kinds of precautions so that we cannot be deprived of it. That’s not all that the pandemic has left us, no. It has also forced us to reinvent ourselves, to look to the future and move forward. A turning point that led to the rise of virtual reality. She was one of the heroines who gave free rein to start up, in a different way, all those activities from which we were expropriated. And one of those activities was education. A country without culture is a poor country. For this reason, it was necessary to retake the methods of learning. Classrooms ceased to be the meeting point for students and were replaced by computers. In the absence of a teacher who could physically teach classes in a space and could teach and demonstrate to his students how they could perform a certain activity, virtual reality gained its place. Thanks to it, several studies have shown that learning methods are more effective, not only for students but also for the employees of a company. Some of the characteristics that make it the best educational weapon are:

For students:

• The level of attention increases as it allows for immersive experiences that can be replayed endlessly.
• The interaction with the different elements present in the virtual space favors the study habit.
• It is possible to measure the range of attention and involvement of a student, not only by calculating the time he/she spends to perform a certain activity or to see what his/her grades are, but also by the movement of his/her eyes that can be controlled through virtual reality.
• Increases collaboration between students and teachers, as they can interact in real time from anywhere.

For employees and companies:

• It reduces accidents at work since, thanks to virtual reality, they will be able to simulate risky situations.
• Cost savings since courses and activities involving virtual reality can be reproduced unlimitedly and at any time, without the need to hire a professional to physically teach in a classroom.
• At a marketing level, it improves the brand image and helps the customer feel part of it thanks to the immersive experiences we have already mentioned.

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