Most educators will tell you that keeping learners engaged and motivated in a traditional classroom setup can be a challenge. With research showing learning delivered via lecture halls is almost twice as likely to fail, this is one problem area school management and lecturers can’t afford to overlook.
Practical and active learning, on the other hand, is more likely to boost engagement and motivation, translating to excellent performance!
Thanks to technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), concepts like metaversity are becoming more commonplace on campuses. This is a significant educational advancement as it enables schools to offer immersive learning environments.
Immersive learning simulates real-life scenarios, allowing learners to experience learning virtually in 2D or 3D as if they were physically present in a specific location.
Now, let’s explore the benefits of immersive learning in higher education.
Learning Through Real-life Replicas
Immersive learning brings lessons to life!
Take the case of a medical student learning to dissect a human body. Instead of using a real cadaver, technology can capture the parts of a body, how it functions, and so on.
Educators can then use immersive learning to enable pupils to perform virtual surgeries which feel like real life. They don’t need to be in a physical lab to dissect since they can do it virtually!
Encourages Participation
Students can find it hard to participate in real classrooms for fear of getting it wrong in front of their peers. Immersive learning can help by making interactions easier for such learners, through the use of avatars which is fun and fosters participation. This is because a learner can ask questions, answer, and take part in discussions as an avatar, all without having to reveal their face or real profile.
Cuts on Equipment and Traveling Costs
With immersive learning, students from all walks of life can meet in an immersive space without ever needing to travel. This is great because it eliminates travelling costs for families that would struggle to afford these expenses.
This also exposes learners to different cultures since they can interact with others from different geographical locations.
What’s more, tech is no longer only affordable to the select few. There's a common misconception that VR and AR gadgets are costly. While this might have been true a few years back, it's no longer the case. Prices have dropped drastically, and are likely to continue doing so as supply increases due to demand.
May Help Reduce Dropout Rates
Boring and disengaging teaching methods are amongst the top reasons students drop out of school. Immersive learning, on the other hand, helps students feel more connected.
In addition, it simplifies learning by not using graphs, charts and other complicated visuals that may be difficult for some students to grasp. Instead, it uses real-life visualisations to simplify concepts, making them easier to understand.
Ready to Take Your Campus to The Next Level Using Immersive Learning?
Many universities are adopting immersive learning because it presents many opportunities that traditional teaching lacks. It offers learners the chance to take field trips from the comfort of their homes or classroom.
Immersive learning is slowly taking shape and becoming a critical part of higher learning. Undoubtedly, future classrooms will adopt the technology, making this the prime time for university stakeholders to lay the groundwork.
Comments