Author: Dr. eng. Ani Atanasova (PhD, MSc), CEO Pixelhunters
New technology such as VR is now very popular and the trend is that it will probably enter in every house by 2020. Should we, as parents, be afraid of this technology and should we resist to the VR implementation in education?
In learning – all is about having good teachers. Being a good teacher is a vocation – it requires love to the teaching process, love to social activities and dedication to transfer the knowledge even to students that need some more time in the understanding process.
We live in an era where the new generation of kids is too much plunged in new technologies, all type of digital content is everywhere, the expectations for immersion, entertainment and tools to stimulate imagination are pre-existing conditions.
It is difficult to use old styles of delivering information to the new generation of kids. We risk to have low level of attention, low engagement and respectively low retention of the information.
Universities role is to provide knowledge and preparation for the work world, until the Business requires already skilled employees.
Where the fresh graduates can gather practical experience if the Business doesn’t have time to train new employees?
How much money Business is spending on training of their existing employees yearly?
Yes, the new technologies are coming even if we resist on them, but how we use them is what can make the difference.
What are the biggest benefits of VR for Education?
- VR provides immersion and engagement.
- Eliminates external distractions and inefficient multi-tasking
- VR games can track performance and level of retention of the information.
Where VR has the most valuable role?
- When we need to reduce the cost for training in topics that involve long training process and many trainers
- When the required gathered experience involves expensive technical setups
- In practical trainings where the engagement level is very low and needs a boost.
Indeed the education and the way of learning have evolved with time. It is nowadays less needed students memorizing formulas and complex material – it’s all about understanding, creativity and imagination. And how those can be successfully used in real-life problem solving.
If VR is used smartly to its biggest strengths, from a technology that is mostly considered as entertaining, VR can be transformed to a powerful tool for improving the quality of learning.
Pixelhunters specializes in developing innovative educational gamified solutions for the governmental and corporate sectors. How to make the learning process more enjoyable and measurable – this is our passion and priority.