Augmented and Virtual Reality by Jovoney

Augmented and Virtual Reality by Jovoney - February 2018 Scholarship Essay

Imagine being able to take field trips to the Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, and Roman Colosseum all within the classroom. Or point a phone/tablet at a picture and a video appears about how to solve a math problem, a biography of Shakespeare, or visually see the process of photosynthesis. Augmented and virtual reality innovations can make this possible, and can become an integral part of education in the year 2038.
We all know that our society is becoming more and more technology-based, so our curriculums should change with it. With the exponentially increased use of smartphones, particularly in our youth, traditional educational instruction has become boring. There are four different styles of learning: (spatial) visual, (aural) auditory-musical, (linguistic) verbal, and (kinesthetic) physical. As our generation continues to depend on our cellular devices and other electronics for entertainment, our learning styles shift to spatial and kinesthetic styles. Long shakespearean plays bore us. Thick textbooks sit in our lockers collecting dust. Not only would the incorporation of augmented and virtual reality engage students and utilize all learning styles, but it also reduces the amount of wasted books and paper.
There are multiple benefits this technology has on students, educational institutes, and the world. In my Engineering class, we are utilizing this technology to help local businesses solve an issue they may be experiencing. This was made possible through a partnership with the Verizon Innovative Learning program. Of course the technology and mission to help a local business is wondrous, however I believe that the ability for any student regardless if they’re not interested in STEM is more amazing. If you’re interested in the arts, you could use your creativity to design a solution for a local business to advertise in a more productive way. If you’re interested in history, you have to research the cultural, geographical, and historical aspects of any solution you are planning to implement. If your interested in business, like myself, you have to understand the owner and business that you are helping and build a deep level of empathy. Virtual reality appeals to all students in the most engaging way. It also prepares them for the even more technological world they will live in within the next few years.