VR can be very effective and compelling in the classroom (as discussed in our recent article), and is especially useful for middle and high school students who are also better able to handle the learning curve. E-learning VR applications range from full fledged (and brand new) 3D universities on the Web, to VR classrooms where students can learn another language via immersion, and to models of complicated equipment that uses VR as an instruction tool on how to correctly use the equipment. Let’s take a look at some interesting e-learning VR applications.
History
Your students could study ancient cities like Babylon. There are dozens of these recreations online, as well as study guides to help with lesson planning.
How about a lesson that puts students on the battlefield during the American Revolutionary War?
Biology and Chemistry
We have already covered ways to teach science online, but a complete virtual lab could be very useful and cost effective
Recreation of Recent Events
With all the questions of events in the news happening today, many events in recent history have been filmed from multiple angles and can be recreated in 3D. Yahoo has made an interactive Extend Reality (XR) model of the events that took place in the capital on Jan 6, 2021. These kinds of models are compelling and could help engage students in discussions.
Replay or Recreate sporting events
With professional athletes making increasing use of VR, amateur and school based sports is the next step. The professionals are regularly using VR for training in a variety of different sports.
Geology in VR
Studying geology is very compelling in 3D. You can separate the layers to understand the age and make up of the rocks and soil under our feet.
Technical Skill Classes
Classes that require some expertise; electrical work, car repair, or even welding can be recreated to a high degree of accuracy in 3D. A high school shop class or auto repair class could be recreated more safely and at a lower price point especially for beginning classes. Classes could have beginners enrolled virtually for the first few classes and graduate into real life classes.
Foreign Language Classes
Speaking in person with native speakers is a time honored way to quickly learn a different language. VR is already being used to teach languages virtually via immersion but this could be done much more simply.
In a virtual environment, students from different countries could interact, each speaking the language they are learning to a native speaker. So an American student could speak in french to a french student who would be speaking english. This would work very well if the students were of similar ages and would make a very compelling classroom experience..
Look around any school classroom and you could probably think of 10 more ways to use VR in the classroom