How VR, AR, and AI are Changing the Way Students Learn and Boosting Engagement
Rachael Mann M.Ed
Keynote Speaker | TEDx Speaker | AI in CTE Strategist | Author of Pack Your Bags for an AI-Driven-Future, The Martians in Your Classroom, The CTSO Competition Companion | 2022 Top 30 Global Gurus
Today, something is making it possible to explore any topic with a 360-degree view - or even from within the heart of an atom! Technology has been changing the way that we learn for decades. Now, with Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), how we learn in classrooms, homes, and the workplace is transforming exponentially. These technologies allow us to delve into topics in a way that has never been possible before. With AR, we can project information onto the real world around us, while we can experience entire simulations using VR. AI can be used with both of these technologies or stand-alone to provide immediate feedback and individualized learning.
Teachers who are using these technologies are also increasing student engagement by allowing them to interact with what they're learning on a more personal level. With these new tools at their fingertips, teachers can create immersive experiences for students which will help them understand concepts better. Learn more about how these technologies are being used in Career and Technical Education classrooms and in the workplace today and how they'll shape the way we learn and work tomorrow!
VR, AR, and AI in a Nutshell
Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Artificial Intelligence have been around for quite some time now. The terms AI, AR, and VR are sometimes used interchangeably, and while there is a convergence between the three, they each have distinct characteristics.?
In brief, Virtual Reality is a computer‐generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special equipment such as a headset. It is an artificial environment that can be explored and interacted with in order to create the feeling of being in another place. VR can also include social interactions with other individuals.
Augmented Reality blends the physical and digital worlds to produce new environments and visualizations where physical things co-exist and interact with virtual elements. It overlays information and digital content onto the physical world. AR is a live, direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, or GPS data.?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence displayed by machines and computer programs and can be defined as the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that require intelligence when performed by humans. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI includes machine learning, natural language processing, and speech recognition. Artificial intelligence is being used to help students better understand textbooks through applications such as quizzes based on one's reading speed.
Another term that is used to describe VR and AR is Extended Reality (XR). XR is an umbrella term that is also used to represent the convergence of technologies.
How are these technologies changing the way we learn and work
VR, AR, and AI are changing how we learn in classrooms and the workplace. They allow people to explore topics using technology. With these new tools at their fingertips, teachers can create immersive experiences that will help them understand concepts better. An example of this is when Artificial Intelligence is used to help students better understand textbooks through things like quizzes based on one's reading speed.
In Madison, Alabama, KTech Beta Academy is partnering with Bob Jones High School Engineering Academy to prepare students for the workplace using virtual reality that simulates on-the-job experiences. As a part of the program, students will have an opportunity to interview for an internship with Transfer VR. This is just one example of new intersections of technology, education, and the workforce. New skill development can be obtained using VR, AR, and AI in welding, flight simulations, and for developing soft skills and professionalism.?
These technologies provide deep learning opportunities for students to visit places around the world and workplaces through virtual reality field trips and to gain new perspectives, be engaged in hands-on learning activities, solve complex problems through collaboration and communicate effectively with Virtual Collaborative Spaces. Augmented Reality also provides a way to bring objects into our world, creating opportunities for deeper learning before experimenting with expensive and sometimes dangerous tools and materials. Virtual Reality is being used by high schools across the nation as an instructional tool for welding, manufacturing processes, human anatomy & physiology, and dental hygiene stations.
VR and AR can provide training programs without immediate exposure to dangers. According to Finance Online, VR reduces the chances of work-related injuries by 43%.
Fire science programs and law and public safety classes can use this tech to learn from high-risk environments without putting students at risk during the training process.
领英推荐
What does this mean for the future of education and how we learn in general?
What does this mean for the future of education and how we learn in general? With such technologies at our disposal, it is important to consider how they can be integrated into career and technical education classrooms in order to improve student engagement, training, and comprehension. VR, AR, and AI have the potential to change the way we learn by providing more immersive experiences which allow us to explore topics in greater detail. ?
Dell Technologies forecasts that moving forward, the pace of change will be so exponential that it will be necessary to use augmented reality and virtual reality to learn in the moment. Being knowledgeable about a career path will not suffice, and the ability to gain new information in real-time will be more valuable. This directly impacts how education should be approached, knowing that for this generation and upcoming generations, the ability to access and obtain new information will be more beneficial than rote memorization of facts and figures.?
These technologies are being used at an increasing pace in the workplace already. Platforms such as Talespin use VR to simulate conversational role-play with virtual humans so that the user can develop soft skills specific to their work field and critical communication skills such as recognizing bias and developing self-awareness. The platform integrates AI to provide immediate feedback. The potential of this platform and similar platforms such as this are endless in Career and Technical Education classrooms and labs.?
Additional benefits of using VR, AR, or AI in a classroom setting?
There are many benefits to using VR, AR, and AI in the classroom setting. One of the most notable benefits mentioned earlier is that it can help increase student engagement. VR and AR can create immersive learning experiences that allow students to explore topics in greater detail. These technologies can also help students who may be struggling with comprehension by providing more personalized feedback. Additionally, VR and AR can be used to improve communication between teachers and students by providing a more interactive learning environment. Finally, AI can be used to automate assessment tasks and provide personalized feedback to students.
What makes these technologies so unique is that they allow students to interact with ideas in ways that haven't been possible before. Perhaps one of the most significant benefits is that it can help empower students by giving them more agency over the learning process. With these technologies, students can create avatars that look like them and interact with a concept or topic in a way they may otherwise be unable to. This increased agency may help motivate students and make learning more fun and engaging.
Another benefit is that it has the potential to incentivize students by implementing a rewards-based system. Not only can students complete quizzes and assessments through these technologies, but they may also be able to gain experience points or level up, which will unlock new features for their avatars. This could help motivate students who may not otherwise engage with the learning process.
“When you are building the infrastructure to support our students, do not forget the infinite space that the meta-universe will impact. We do not need more teacher demonstration tables because the students themselves can now enter the inquiry without the passive, theatrical spotlight on the teacher. ?Create open space so technology can be brought in and easily re-purpose the space for active learning.? The days of permanent hardwood lab benches and large power supplies that housed vacuum tubes in the 70s may not be the focus in academic laboratories and soak up that million-dollar laboratory renovation. Follow the career pathway into the meta-universe!” Robert Marraccino
Conclusion
VR, AR, and AI are much more than gaming devices and are already transforming the classroom and the workplace. While technology cannot replace the nuances of the real world, simulations have their advantages, especially with AI and the ability to give immediate feedback and individualized learning opportunities. With these technologies at their fingertips, teachers can create more immersive experiences for students, allowing them to explore topics using technology. What does this mean for the future of education and how we learn in general? With such technologies at our disposal, it is important to consider how they can be integrated into the classroom in order to improve student engagement and comprehension. VR, AR, and AI have the potential to change the way we learn by providing more immersive experiences which allow us to explore topics in greater detail.
About the author: Rachael Mann is a tech and education speaker and writer. Her work examines how emerging technologies like AI, VR, and AR are shaping the future of learning and what it means for schools. This article was written in partnership with Jasper.AI?and Grammarly.
Follow Rachael on Twitter here.
References:?