Just over a decade ago, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) emerged as significant trends for consumer use, particularly in gaming and entertainment. However, due to COVID-19 travel limitations and on-site work restrictions, businesses are now embracing VR at double the pace of consumers. AR is progressively employed in training, meetings, and customer service, while VR finds increased utilisation in conferences and events.
This short video explains the fundamental differences between AR, VR and MR.
VR and Educational Virtual Reality Games (EVRGs) have been used as teaching and learning support tools for several years. Still, it will be interesting to see the development of AR/VR applications as a widespread alternative to face-to-face teaching. Streaming volumetric videos and employing Augmented Reality (AR) tech could personalise and enhance the school learning setting. Yet, while Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) doesn’t consistently improve students’ test performance, it notably boosts their interest and confidence, according to Parong & Mayer’s 2018 study. AR applications accessible via smartphones are poised to become more commonly utilised.
The accessibility of technology remains a significant challenge in education. I’m sceptical about schools’ capacity to finance VR headsets for every student. The advent of virtual or augmented reality could exacerbate the existing digital gap in education. However, dedicated spaces like libraries and makerspaces have the potential to evolve into centres for collaboration, creativity, and a heightened form of digital literacy, as outlined by Craig in 2020.
Within makerspaces, Learning and Innovation Technology (LIT) is applied to foster collaborative learning and STEM education. VR is in harmony with constructivist theory, as noted by Oyelere et al. in 2020. Additionally, the integration of AR can potentially convert “tinkering” into an educational approach for conveying typically elusive concepts like electricity and sound through visualisation and interaction, as highlighted by Schneider & Radu in 2018.
The potential risks associated with employing VR and AR in teaching young children involve concerns about the psychological impact known as “presence,” where individuals feel immersed in a media event, according to Bowman & McMahan (2007). Additionally, there’s a question regarding children’s ability to discern between a representation of reality and reality itself.
Careful consideration is essential when contemplating the utilisation of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) in educating young children, as highlighted by Bailey & Bailenson in 2017. Children’s distinct experience of IVR compared to adults necessitates a specific pedagogical approach tailored for VR in the classroom, essential for leveraging its advantages effectively.
References
Bailey, J. O., & Bailenson, J. N. (2018). Immersive virtual reality and the developing child. In Fran C. Blumberg & Patricia J. Brooks (Eds.) Development in Digital Contexts (pp.181-200). Academic Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809481-5.00009-2
Bowman, D. A., & McMahan, R. P. (2007). Virtual reality: How much immersion is enough? Computer, 40(7), 36–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MC.2007.257.
Craig, E. (2018). How can we prevent a digital divide 2.0 as virtual reality expands? EdTech. https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2018/04/how-we-can-prevent-digital-divide-20-virtual-reality-expands
Oyelere, S.S., Bouali, N., Kaliisa, R. et al.(2020). Exploring the trends of educational virtual reality games: a systematic review of empirical studies. Smart Learning Environment 7(31). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-020-00142-7
Parong, J., & Mayer, R. E. (2018). Learning science in immersive virtual reality. Journal of Educational Psychology, 110(6), 785–797. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000241
Schneider, B. & Radu, I. [Data Bytes] (August 28, 2018). Using augmented reality to promote making with understanding. Educause Review. https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2018/8/using-augmented-reality-to-promote-making-with-understanding
Velicus. (2021, March 9). The differences between AR, VR and MR. [Video]. YouTube. The differences between AR, VR & MR – YouTube
