Virtual and augmented reality technologies have been introduced in Russia for several years now - this is part of
Why do schools need VR and AR?
Virtual reality is slowly making its way intoschools. For example, since 2019, she has been helping students in Nizhny Novgorod to master life safety, since 2021, it was planned to conduct lessons in this subject using VR simulators in all schools in the city. In 2019, an experiment took place when students in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Vladivostok used VR to prepare for the OGE in physics and chemistry.
Students who have taken part in suchexperiments, they note that thanks to new technologies, the material is easier to learn, and in virtual reality it is not so scary to try and make mistakes. In addition, the helmet isolates from others, which increases concentration. Therefore, for example, “free” laboratories are created in chemistry modules, where you can mix any substances and observe their interaction. At the same time, all students, teachers and school property are in absolute safety, even if the experiments result in an explosive mixture.
The helmet isolates from others, which increases concentration
With the help of VR, you can practice skills insituations that you shouldn't get into in the first place. This is relevant for life safety - virtual reality will allow you to check the correctness of actions in case of fire, terrorist attack, earthquake in the most realistic conditions. When teaching foreign languages, technologies will be transferred to different language situations; in the lessons of history or literature - they will help to become a spectator or participant in the events in question; in physical, mathematical and natural science disciplines - they will show what cannot be seen with the naked eye.
The main scope of virtual reality- not "remote", but face-to-face classes in the classroom, together with the teacher and other students. For example, at life safety lessons in Nizhny Novgorod, children learn how to work in emergency situations in groups.
School VR reality
Virtual and augmented reality willincreasingly used in education. Now VR/AR is one of the most engaging learning formats. A Common Sense Census study shows that children under 8 spend an average of 2.5 hours a day in front of screens. The presentation of information based on modern technologies, including VR and AR, is becoming the most interesting and understandable for today's generation. The main thing is a dosed pastime - however, this also applies to the usual work at the computer. Consequently, such formats will soon become a full-fledged educational tool along with textbooks and notebooks.
But for VR and AR to bring learning to the maximumbenefit, teachers should understand how to work with them: what materials and plots are needed for different subjects, how to correlate theory and practice, how to organize class work and knowledge testing. Previously, due to the high cost of helmets and a small number of software for schools, the use of VR technologies in education was not very popular among teachers. And the developers did not create VR programs for school subjects due to low demand. Now the situation is changing.
This is evident, among other things, from the fact that in recentFor years, interest in the use of VR/AR has been growing. There are more centers of competence and advanced training. For example, the Skolkovo resident VR Concept has been teaching the implementation of VR in education since 2020 and during this time has trained 300 teachers. At the end of 2021, the company held the first VR implementation accelerator in the Russian Federation, which attracted the attention of teachers and collected 2,000 applications.
Equipment has also become much more affordable.TrendForce analysts believe that 18.81 million VR and AR devices will be sold in 2023 (this is 4 times more than in 2020). And CCS Insight experts note that by 2025 the number of devices sold will reach 71 million. Last year's forecast said that in a five-year perspective, the market would grow by an average of 37% per year.
Virtual and augmented reality will be increasingly used in education
VR-learning for the teacher
Education of teachers goes in several directions.Focusing on federal documents, the regions create their own programs for the application of modern developments. For example, the Stavropol State Agrarian University has created an additional advanced training program for teachers and university staff in the digital educational environment. It examines the use of VR / AR in lessons in various subjects. The teaching aid of the Institute for the Development of Education of the Kirov Region also discusses VR / AR technologies.
Private tech companies also invite teachers.For example, Skolkovo VR Concept launched the first VR Academy in Russia. Here you can take 3 educational courses online (for 36 and 72 hours) and get a certificate of professional development. With more active introduction of VR in schools, the company plans to launch hackathons, accelerators and competitions for teachers.
The VR Academy will also develop the communityexperts and VR ecosystem among teachers. On the virtual reality lessons marketplace, they will be able to share their experiences and even monetize them. Teachers will organize their events and help colleagues master solutions based on virtual reality technologies. For the needs of specific educational institutions, they plan to conduct online and offline courses at the request of schools, as well as advise them on the implementation of VR.
What can VR be like in schools
It is important that training programs for educatorstook into account different formats for conducting lessons with VR elements, since classes can be organized differently depending on whether it is group or individual work, how many students are in the class, what equipment is used.
For VR and AR to bring maximum value to learning, teachers need to understand how to work with them.
The traditional view of applicationvirtual reality technologies in the classroom - children working with VR glasses and controllers. This option is often found in schools using new technologies. At the same time, in order to reduce the number of helmets for one lesson, the children are divided into two groups. While one of them is going through theory or completing tasks in “our reality”, the second one is training on VR simulators. The teacher needs to understand how to organize the parallel work of the class, what tasks to give in real and virtual reality.
Another option is to use non-portabledevices. Such educational solutions are being developed by Visionero, a resident of the Skolkovo Foundation. A multimedia room with motion capture cameras and 4K projectors creates a virtual space for the entire class at once, providing 2D and 3D interactive interaction with virtual objects (that is, they can be “touched”, influenced by them). The guys are completely immersed in what is happening in the hall - they are transported to another historical era, travel in space, observe physical phenomena, play volleyball or even golf. The teacher can conduct theoretical tasks for the whole class at once and illustrate his words with a “virtual presentation”, you can also organize group work, conduct excursions.
Materials using virtual realitycan be useful for a variety of subjects - from biology to world culture. In addition, the introduction of VR in the educational environment will contribute to the introduction of technology in production. Among the reasons hindering its active implementation in schools, three main ones have traditionally been identified: expensive equipment; little educational software for VR/AR technologies; teachers do not know how to use VR/AR in the classroom. Work is progressing in all three areas. But it is extremely important that the teachers themselves understand the value of the latest technologies, their demand among children, convenience and visibility. Then they will be motivated to learn new formats and actively use them.
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