As the metaverse and immersive learning develop fiercely, the application of AR/VR technology in education and training is becoming an inevitable reality. For the last decade, the use of immersive technology as a teaching tool has been in the process of development. But you can’t deny the influence of the pandemic that worked like a catalyst to boost the virtual world for education.

According to market research, the AR/VR market in education might reach $19.6 billion this year.

Some stats even say that the market has more potential than projected. With the right integration, the global AR, VR, and MR market can reach $300 billion by 2024. Sure, the number is projected for the total market prospect of the AR/VR/ MR industry, but the education sector holds quite a substantial amount.

Today, incorporating custom VR apps or AR integration helps address some major issues within the modern education sector. This includes a shift from retention methods to interactive methods that help teachers to engage students.

What is AR/VR learning?

To explain in simple terms, teaching with augmented reality and virtual reality includes hardware and software that helps students form a virtual environment, along with providing a stimulating experience. Educational and training institutes can make custom VR apps and use headsets like Cardboard VR that are particularly helpful to students.

The difference between AR and VR would is the use of virtual environments. While VR is a digital-only space, AR overlays digital elements and information on real-world components.

When we talk about MR or mixed reality, we talk about hybrid reality. Unlike VR, it doesn’t give a fully immersive digital environment. Mixed reality is a hybrid form of stimulus where you get a view of the physical world with digital elements often interacting with each other.

As AR/VR technology in education continues to develop constantly, educational institutions are taking proactive steps to incorporate it into their teaching curriculum. Teachers use AR apps to animate scientific research, use VR to describe geographical topography, or explain historical events.

Additionally, AR has significant potential where teachers can use augmented elements in labs. Students can interact with the human body, plants, and animals to get a better understanding of the anatomy of various species.

Apart from learning, companies and training centers worldwide are investing in custom VR app development to enhance employee skills. AR/VR training provides a real-life situation in front of employees that’s practically easier to comprehend. They give a platform not only to interact within a virtual environment but also to enhance employees’ problem-solving skills.

How Can You Benefit From The Use Of AR And VR In Education And Training?

Virtual and augmented reality has the potential to really transform our perception of receiving educational or training content. It creates a more collaborative world where you can solve problems, innovate teaching methods, and differentiate content for different learners.

Some of the crucial advantages of using AR/VR technology in education are:

Better command over complex subjects

While some subjects are easier to grasp for most students, other things, like planetary motion or political events might get difficult to visualize. And we all know that visualization can help to learn more conveniently.

AR/VR tools can enhance the learning process more comprehensively with the picturization of complicated ideas.

Better engagement

Whether it’s a training program or a school project, you need a learner’s attention. With AR/VR, you can make 3D interactive models. Some software even allows instructors to gamify topics, making the whole experience much more fun.

For instance, with an app called SkyView, students can explore the universe using AR overlays of the night sky. The app helps students point their devices toward the sky and learn about constellations, planets, satellites, etc.

Personalizing education

There are millions of marginalized communities around the world. According to data from UNICEF, there are over 240 million children with disabilities in 2021. Moreover, as of 2021, over 2.8 million kids received special education due to learning disabilities.

Can you imagine how helpful AR/VR apps could be for those children? The use of virtual reality in education would allow teachers to personalize lessons for every kid. They can learn at their own pace with study guides.

Learning by doing

How much practical experience did you truly get through reading school books or text guides?

Using AR/VR technology as a teaching tool can help students with practical learning by stimulating the real-world environment.

A great example of virtual reality in education can be seen in the health sector. Budding doctors can use AR/VR tools to complete virtual surgeries or diagnose any disease. Likewise, pilots can use headsets to resemble any emergency that may arise during their work.

How Can AR/VR Be Used In Education?

Education is a big part of a student’s life. It helps you to understand and expand your knowledge. Additionally, training assists you to improve your skillset and become a professional.

Educators and trainers can use AR/VR technology for various purposes:

Virtual field trips

Students can’t visit everywhere for school expeditions as these things cost a lot in the physical world. However, with the help of AR/VR tools, students won’t need to present physically at a location to know about it.

For instance, if you want a budding marine biologist to learn about a specific species of marine life, they need to go there physically. With VR headsets, they can virtually take a deep ‘dive’ into the ocean to learn about marine life or particular coral reefs.

Virtual labs

Apart from virtual classrooms, the use of virtual reality in education can be applied through virtual labs. As we were discussing before, students can get hands-on training for different skills in VR labs. These labs provide a pretty realistic lab experience, offering a fun environment and a risk-free learning setting.

For school students, if an experiment is too risky to perform at a real lab, you can introduce AR elements to explain a concept. It also helps students to understand science at a molecular level, ultimately enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the subject.

AR in the manufacturing industry

Learning about complex machinery, product manufacturing, chemical bonding, and others requires a lot of theoretical knowledge. However, there is a gap in the market for skilled workers.

With AR screens and elements, employees can complete their work using real-time instructions and better training methods. Companies like Siemens are using AR stimulation to train their employees in welding. AR apps help with:

• Bridging industry-related skill gaps
• Maintenance
• Reducing human error
• Offering a risk-free training environment
• Timely assembly

AR/VR improving internships

Internships are an essential stepping-stone for any student. With internships, students understand what type of profession suits them, their aptitude, and other areas of a professional career. Instead of physical internships that require a lot of labor, students can take virtual internships for different roles.

AR/VR technology in education helps students to complete remote internships. They can opt for career expeditions where learners explore a day for a typical job role and get key insights into what would be expected of them in the future.

Specific role in training and education

Fields like the military, medical education, or space require a very specific type of training. All of these jobs have certain risk factors and need physical exposure to certain levels of dangerous environments.

With VR/AR technology, trainers can stimulate such an environment to train soldiers, eliminating the danger of life risk. Similarly, AR technology can help medical students to have a deep understanding of human anatomy. For example, an AR app known as the Human Anatomy Atlas helps medical students to explore human body parts and understand their functions.

Looking At The Future Of AR/VR Technology In Education

See, learning can happen in 7 styles—verbal, visual, auditory, logical, social, physical, and solitary. Till now, we have been mostly exposed to the physical, verbal, and social forms of learning. However, looking forward, with AR/VR technology, a combination of all the elements can only improve learning.

On a professional level, simple tasks are easier with AR/VR/MR applications. The adoption of VR technology in the education sector is getting higher with institutes opting for custom VR apps for their students.

Apart from other industries, the education sector would be the 4th largest sector to consume VR technology. A study by Statista shows that by 2025, VR in education will reach up to a $700 million industry.

The use of AR/VR technology in education and training would have a profound impact with simplified concepts, bringing better student engagement. Educators are already using AR tools to animate textbooks. Many enterprises have started to invest in AR/VR tools to improve employee skills within a safe environment.

However, building AR/VR software requires special technical knowledge and mastery that only comes with experience. Good VR software must align with your hardware to give students a fully immersive learning experience. Similarly, AR software must align with a real object to help students with an enhanced session. Partnering with an experienced team of professional developers like Brainium would ensure that you get a high-tech personalized VR app. Our VR app development services will deliver a seamless learning experience to your students.