Virtual Reality is a fairly new and exciting change in the classroom. Teachers have been able to incorporate it into lessons since it helps remove distractions in the classroom. It also helps to submerse the students in the lesson and gives a creative way for them to understand the material. This makes learning an active experience which will boost the engagement and also help students learn complex concepts. Another way it is interesting is because it takes the students away from the classroom. This is something that you can incorporate into most lesson plans and allows students to not be so stagnant at their desks, especially for younger students that need to release more energy.
One way that interests me with using this system in the classroom is for a Science class. Imagine when you’re telling your students about planets, galaxies and our solar system and they are able to fully submerge themselves into an experience like no other. It would make it more exciting and interesting for students and allow them to get a better understanding on certain topics. Another way you could use virtual reality in the classroom is taking the students on a “field trip” and you can have a simulation during the Jurassic period and allow students to look at different dinosaurs. They could get an understanding of how big they used to be as well.
A second way you could incorporate virtual reality in the classroom is in Literature by bringing the students into the story. You can use Google Cardboard medium to create role-playing games where students put themselves in the middle of a 3-D tale. This way they can live through the characters and experience what they did at the time. This can help students that may struggle with reading and understanding what they just read.
There’s so many ways to involve virtual reality in the classroom for the betterment of the students. In almost every class if not all you can use it. This would definitely be something I use in my own class, especially wanting to be an elementary or middle school teacher. I think it would be so fun for the students and get more involvement as a whole.
