AR, VR, and STEAM are the latest buzz, especially with ChatGPT and immersive experiences. How can they combine to create effective digital learning tools?
What’s even the difference?
AR stands for augmented reality; it’s like putting on a pair of goggles that overlay digital information onto your real-world surroundings, creating an enhanced view of your environment.
AR can be found in mobile games like Pokémon GO, a high-grossing game that encouraged users to explore their surroundings to 'find' Pokémon near their location. The game also featured an option where users could use their camera to 'see' the Pokémon in front of them—imagine spotting a wild Pikachu standing on a chair right before your eyes!
VR stands for virtual reality; instead of placing data on existing surroundings, virtual reality allows you to be fully immersed in a simulated environment and experience.
There has been a rise in VR headsets such as the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3. These devices are like opaque glasses which allow the user to see a whole new environment. Imagine transforming your living room into a Mario Kart racetrack!
STEAM education is also on the rise, which emphasizes the subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. It is the future of education as students are able to develop important soft skills that will prove useful in the years to come.
How can AR and VR be educational?
As technology advances and digital learning becomes more common in classrooms, the introduction of AR and VR can elevate education to a new level.
Imagine a student learning about the human body. With numerous organs, tissues, and bones to memorize, understanding anatomy can be overwhelming through notes alone. But with AR, students can examine a 3D model of the human body, providing a hands-on, immersive experience that enhances visualization and deepens their understanding of complex concepts.
On the flip side, VR opens up entirely new worlds where students can dive into immersive experiences, like painting masterpieces alongside famous artists or exploring artistic movements throughout history. Imagine students stepping into a virtual studio, experimenting with different techniques, or even creating their own digital artwork in a risk-free environment! No more paint messes or art supplies scattered everywhere!
Of course, there are many exciting ways to integrate these groundbreaking technologies into our classrooms. Imagine a future where students use AR to design and build their own roller coasters, visualizing every twist and turn in real-time. Or picture them using VR to synthesize new chemical elements, conducting virtual experiments in a fully immersive lab environment.
These innovations promise to make learning more interactive and engaging, transforming abstract concepts into hands-on experiences and sparking creativity in the realm of 21st century education.
Closing Thoughts
AR and VR together transform education by turning abstract concepts into hands-on experiences, catering to various learning styles and making learning more engaging. Students can design roller coasters with AR or conduct virtual experiments with VR, offering immersive and practical learning. While concerns about AI's impact on the workforce exist, integrating AR and VR in classrooms presents new opportunities, revolutionizing education and making it more interactive and relevant for the 21st century. We can’t wait to see what else the world of technology has in store for us!