Virtual Reality In Education

Virtual Reality its use in education, culture and the Impact on Society

Abstract

The aims and objectives, of this paper, are to discuss Virtual reality (VR), and its profound usage within educational systems. It will be supported by different research evidence which speak to the application of such. It is underscored by literature reviews and intends to enumerate the potential advantages of implementation within the Caribbean.

Factors such as diversification of culture, ethnicity, environment and human behavior, as it relates to the VR, virtual worlds and avatars and education, will also be explored. Social issues and diversification which affects education, and the underlying processes are investigated coupled with the ability of VR to

Pantelidis [4] undertook in-depth review of multiple research papers and she highlighted the reasons to use VR in education and training. It gave an invaluable perspective of the teacher and student as enlisted hereunder.

• Promotes constructivist learning.

• Can be effective for special needs students.

• Teachers became facilitators.

• Students enjoyed using and making their own virtual worlds.

• The majority of the teachers in the studies reviewed said they would use VR Technology if it were affordable, available, and easy to use for students and teachers.

Below gives the details as to the whys and wherefores for incorporating VR in education:

VR looks at visualization. It allows information to be presented differently. It allows data be looked at different angles and can be zoomed in for a close up.

VR motivates students to want to learn. There is increased interaction and participation in the classroom. Traditional education suggests that more students are passive and lack of communication with the teachers as they may be shy or do not want to get the wrong answer.

Collaborative VR use text input with words to encourage collaboration and to provide a social atmosphere

Comparisons of Education in East and West

A combination of these teaching methodologies can prove to be effective in the western world as we tend to spend a lot of time explaining and not being able to cover the Syllabus where as in the eastern world that is impossible. Both has its advantages and disadvantages.

In the Eastern world the pass rates are higher but in the western world there is more creativity and innovation in terms of communication.

VR can close this gap. It can incorporate the various teaching methodology of the world to provide an efficient system Memorization and evaluation can be incorporated.

The study concluded that nations can progress and advance as a result of a well-organized, competent education structure thereby producing prized, creative and idealistic people.”[6]

Reforming education can impact economic growth of a Nation.

Education differs dramatically between developing and developed countries. Researchers have found that education impacts earnings and economic growth.

Poor children, with a lack of good education, are most likely to get low paying incomes. Poor areas and poor children who do not perform well in school due to lack of resources, poor education system. Lack of support from home is also a perennial challenge. [11] Poor children can grow into poor adults. Therefore, the System and educational policies have to be changed to cater for these