Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are two technologies that have the potential to revolutionize education by delivering a completely different form of learning environment than that of traditional classrooms. These technologies stimulate more than one sense domain and help students to see, touch, manipulate, comprehend, and search, and generalize on what is being taught. Besides, VR and AR can be seen as learners acquiring knowledge through direct understanding, not by rote and memorization.
In science and history classes, AR and VR can be used to design virtual reality—students can travel to space or watch historical events unfold before their eyes. This type of exposure makes people become more curious and also sharpens their critical-ness. As chemical learning contexts, immersive environments are rather more effective than traditional, static texts or lectures.
Nevertheless, current VR and AR implementations have their limitations in such encounters that require an actual physical feel of the objects. The conventional educational systems provide an important set of personal attributes including empathy, teamwork, and conflict solving, which cannot be developed using a headset. Teachers act as role models by offering company, especially emotional support and educational structure that technology can in any way offer.
Another major limitation is accessibility. However, not all the schools can afford to install VR and AR related structures. These tools call for expensive hardware and fast internet which closes the education gap among the learners. Secondly, sedentary behavior that comes with the use of screens is detrimental to the student’s ability to focus, which has worried educators and parents.
However, VR and AR can be best considered as tools that support and enhance the application of conventional techniques. They supplement learning but cannot replace inter-human learning as well as the classroom setting. Therefore, an integration of both forms of education is necessary to develop a competent teaching environment, which is equitable, stimulating and more suitable for the students.
Conclusion
Modern innovations are VR and AR that can help facilitate learning but can never replace traditional ways of learning. Emotional growth as well as interaction with human beings, through tutoring by tutors is very essential to any student. Applying technology alongside the traditional educational strategies is the right path to the formation of an effective, future-focused educational model.
