Virtual Reality

Article Link: http://www.sunrisevr.com/pdf/SUNRISE_EducationGuide2003.pdf


Summary


This article promotes virtual reality as a teaching tool in all classrooms because it uses some of the more effective learning styles. These three learning styles are visual, experience, and self-directed learning. The virtual reality education is not just learning but experience. It takes the words found in the text books and transforms them into an experience that a student can learn interactively. There are five key reasons why virtual reality is effective in teaching students. The students are highly motivated, independent, learn decision making, learn benefits of subject matter, and it manages time. Virtual reality facilitates active learning verses passive learning which is proven and known as the better learning style. This active learning style allows students to better understand and apply the lessons to life. The use of virtual reality in the classroom feeds into the natural nature of humans to learn visually and hands on. Then it becomes an issue of integrating the virtual reality system into the school. Finding a lab and organizing it to logically allow students to use them for different classes. Then it is necessary to have the teacher support her curriculum with the virtual reality. This learning style promotes attentiveness and creates a good social atmosphere for the students. Virtual reality is a tool to support and reinforce the lesson being taught. It is proven to be highly effective. If a school is willing to undertake the challenge of adopting a new system, this tool could effectively change the way of learning for the better.


By: Sarah Cappel


This article is presented by a company that produces virtual reality software for uses in education. Though it might seem biased, this article presents significant examples of how VR can be very useful in today's classrooms. One of the key arguments of the article is that students learn best by experiencing something first hand. It presents the analogy that when teaching a student about the rainforest a child will best learn about the forest not from reading about it or listening to someone talk about it, but by walking into it- becoming a part of it. Understanding what virtual reality-based learning means, is to understanding the shift from text-based education to multi-sensory, experiential learning. By immersing the students into a world were their experiences go beyond what they can get in the traditional classroom they are provided the best learning possible. The article then presents some good points on why and how virtual reality can be useful in the classroom. Students start with high level of motivation to learn. The distraction factor is minimal, and once the session has begun, come on, what student wouldn't want to put on a VR helmet and take a first hand look into the Amazon. In the conclusion VR is said to have met the standards of what the article claims is were optimal learning takes place: 1) The student works at her own pace 2) Is actively involved in performing specific learning tasks 3) Experiences success in learning. According to that, I guess you can't go wrong with Virtual Reality


By: Mark Stuckey


Thoughts and Reflections


After reading this article I think that Virtual Reality is a great tool for the classroom. This is true because it offers a great way to add innovation to the classroom that really helps engage students. It expands the learning environment and at the same time conveys large amounts of information. I think that it would be very useful especially to visual learners. It goes beyond text book learning and goes into multi-sensory and experimental learning. It can be used in all areas of study and is a great tool for students and teachers!


By: Katherine Eastham


Ideas Regarding the Topic


Virtual reality offers students a more independent approach on learning. By adding virtual reality to classrooms, students start with a high level of motivation to learn. Students today are more self-directed and independent, virtual reality allows them to make most of the decisions concerning the resolution of the problem. Virtual reality puts students inside of their subject, which gives them their own personal experience with their studies. Virtual reality is also beneficial especially when it pertains to time. Many students show lack of interest in a subject after several minutes, I feel that Virtual Reality will help students gain the will to want to engage in learning again. One point that the article made that I found appropriate, was again the fact that "it allows students to adapt learning and discovery into their individual personalities, styles, and resources" Virtual reality also benefits for the teachers as well. Teachers are given the opportunity to guide students through their own creative mind, instead of just supplying answers. I think virtual reality is a necessary tool that should be used in Schools to benefit both teachers and students.


By: Alyson Sode


Opinions on the Topic


In my opinion virtual reality is a great tool for the classroom. Virtual reality can take students to times and places they have never been. The students are able to experience things they may never get the chance to. Students are able to be interactive in those experiences also. Students are able to learn while experiencing these other worlds. They can also create their own virtual reality world and learn even more in the process. Virtual reality can give teachers the tool to give their students the learning experiences they may never get to have.


By: Laura Kvaley


Expansion of Further Information and Further Research


By reading into our article Sunrise Virtual Reality, I have come to realize that virtual reality would actually be a great device that teachers could use in their classrooms to teach students about different things that they do not know of. In the article it gives an example of children not knowing anything about the forest. All they have to do is put on the special headset and use the special glove and they are instantly in the forest. It also says that they can learn about anything they want to learn about while they have the headset and glove on. Virtual Reality is a creative teaching tool that teachers everywhere should start using to help their teaching techniques. Instead of the everyday "Let's read in our textbooks" deal, teachers would have the opportunity to finally say let's take a trip and learn about things that are in the forest. So as we can see Virtual Reality would be a creative device that schools everywhere should start using to enhance the students' want and ability to learn.


By: Courtney Thomas


Virtual Reality allows students to become active in the learning envirnoment. Virtual Reality is a technology form some teachers use in their classrooms. Virtual Reality is used to enhance educational learning in a fun and educational way. Many teachers look for ways to have student participation in their classrooms, and this would be a good one. With the use of virtual reality in the classroom you will find that students are wanting to participate and they will be excited to learn. Some teachers feel that they can use the same teaching methods they used twenty years ago, but that is why they lose the attention of their students. Teachers should be willing to try new things and incorporate new forms of technology usage in their classrooms where students can relate in this time period. The following link is a web page that provides some further information on virtual reality.
http://www.hitl.washington.edu/projects/learning_center/pf/whyvr.htm


By: Christina Dunlop