Education and the Touch of Virtual Reality by Nicolas

Education and the Touch of Virtual Reality by Nicolas - February 2018 Scholarship Essay

Technology continues to increase in its importance in the educational world. Schools and teachers are increasingly depending on technology in and out of the classroom to aid them in effective teaching methods suited to their students. As children become more apt at using technology and dependent upon it in their daily lives, schools must adapt their use of technology in their curriculum. Technology in the classroom is a tool that can spur interest and further the depth of curriculum. A technology that I believe will become an integral part of the classroom and overall education by 2038 is Virtual Reality. The use of Virtual Reality continues to escalate in the tech world as more companies explore its use in different markets. I believe this will soon expand to schools with the use of VR becoming common place in the classroom by 2038.

Virtual Reality immerses the user in a virtual world through special electronic equipment, usually a helmet or eye cover with a screen inside, gloves with sensors, or handheld controllers. Currently, the technology is mainly used in video games and increasingly to watch television shows or movies. Since its original inception, VR has evolved to many different unexpected platforms and continues to grow in use and be more accessible to the masses. Individuals can now purchase VR systems for their personal use in their own home or can use VR attachments to their phones. With their continued accessibility, the chance that they will end up in schools is steadily probable.

Virtual Reality has the potential to truly make education hands-on and immersive in a classroom setting. There is increasing reliance and advancement in project-based learning throughout all levels of education. Virtual reality has the ability to advance project-based learning to the next level, giving students a truly immersive experience in their education. Instead of looking at a map or pictures of the continental U.S., students can visit those places in Virtual Reality, truly seeing the geography of the area. Students can stand in the Globe Theater in London while learning about Shakespeare, or observe species at the bottom of the ocean while they swim around them. All of this can be achieved without leaving the classroom itself. Virtual Reality has the ability to create a classroom where students get to “visit” the places and observe the things they are learning about.

With its constant expansion in the technology world, it is only a matter of time before Virtual Reality reaches the classroom. VR has the potential to become an essential teaching tool in every classroom by the year 2038. VR will allow students to reach out beyond the classroom and infinitely expand their knowledge.