Augmented reality(AR) and virtual reality(VR) have turned online education platforms into an engaging and active learning medium. By providing many perks including enhanced interactivity, improved retention, increased learning performance, etc, these simulation-based technologies have taken online education business to impressive heights!
If you are looking for the best ideas to boost the engagement of the learners in your online curriculum, then investing in AR/VR would be an ideal choice! Learners enjoy those immersive learning methods and more likely to stay connected to your online education platform from anywhere.
In this blog, we will explain the importance and benefits of AR/VR for the online education business. By integrating these excellent technologies into your online education websites, you can provide the best user-experience to the aspirants.
Why Should you Invest in AR/VR?
In this post, we have lined up the vital role played by AR/VR technology in various online education businesses.
Let’s get started.
1. What is AR/VR Technology?
Before learning about the importance of AR/VR for your online education business, let’s take a short peek about what AR and VR are.
According to Wikipedia, ‘Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory.’
For instance, kids kicking an alien spacecraft in online games wearing Google Glasses.
On the other side, according to Marxent, ‘Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience. Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds’. Using VR devices such as HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Google Cardboard, users can be immersed in virtual environments.
The combined version of AR/VR becomes the backbone of the online education business. It has shifted the traditional learning practices and has laid an active learning platform for many learners.
As AR/VR help capture the attention of learners, professional educators, tutors, and teachers consider AR/VR to be a tremendous breakthrough. Most of the e-learning businesses have embraced AR/VR technology to make a mark in the online education business.
Hence, by integrating AR/VR technology in online schools, colleges, universities, skill-building classes, you can keep learners engaged during learning sessions.
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2. Augmented Reality in Online Education
Augmented reality enables learners to proactively participate instead of being passive recipients of written information. This well-optimized technology enhances abilities like creative-skills, problem-solving techniques, critical thinking, iterative testing, and many more among learners.
AR boosts the learners’ engagement, improves their learning performance, and encourages them to learn new concepts on their own without searching content libraries, scouring the internet, or finding an expert.
Marketresearch.com reports that the overall market for AR was valued at $2.35 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $117.4 billion by 2022.
Let’s take a look at the use cases of augmented reality in the various online education businesses.
Augmented Reality Apps in Schools
AR implementation in online schools makes students experience an interactive learning session. For instance, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria in Portugal integrates AR into math lessons and students report it as helpful, easy, and interesting.
Here, we have curated the powerful AR apps and tools that will turn your virtual classroom into an engaging platform.
- Elements 4D by DAQRI studio is an Android/iOS app for teaching elementary, secondary and high-school Chemistry
- Anatomy 4D and Corinth Micro Anatomy is an Android/iOS/Windows app for training medical students
- Math Alive and ZooKazam help kids learn numbers and animals
Augmented Reality Apps in Medical Training
You can improve both the knowledge and skills of medical students by taking advantage of augmented reality. For example, with the help of AR technology, it is possible to create human body models and practice virtual surgeries.
Here, we have listed out a few AR apps that help in enhancing learning in medical fields.
- Touch Surgery tool makes users practice virtual surgeries on virtual patients
- With the use of Froggipedia app, you can show the anatomy of frogs through a guided virtual dissection
Likewise, AR technology provides a mammoth of benefits in space learning, product manufacturing classes, military training, tailoring, painting, and many other learning niches.
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3. Virtual Reality in E-learning
It is well-known that virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize traditional learning practice. VR allows learners to interact with the learning material in a virtual environment. This intensifies the engagement and encourages the trainees to learn things efficiently in a quick time.
Moreover, VR provides lots of advantages such as enhanced engagement, improved retention, experiential learning, and more. A report from Marketresearch.com states that the adoption of VR products was valued at $1.37 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $33.9 billion by 2022.
Google offers educational field trips to students provided with VR headsets. Microsoft immerses the players into Minecraft to help children express their creativity by exploring the virtual world. Also, Unimersiv provides VR educational content for businesses and institutions.
Here, we have listed a few real-time examples that show the importance of VR technology in learning.
- Conquer Mobile tests VR surgical training simulations to help medical trainees in doing surgeries to virtual human models
- NASA uses VR for preparing astronauts for upcoming missions
- Toyota teaches the trainees to drive with their TeenDrive365 campaign to deliver immersive driving experiences without endangering the drivers, vehicles, and pedestrians
- US Military uses VR to train soldiers to reduce training expenses
- Siemens provides employee training simulations using VR technology
Virtual Reality Apps in Schools
If you are planning to enhance your curriculum, here are educational apps and tools that can help innovate the way you teach in the online classrooms.
- Titans of Space is an interactive VR app to teach your students about the solar system
- Anatomyou helps you to teach about respiratory, digestive, circulatory and other human body systems
- Tiltbrush is a useful VR app for boosting creativity among students related to arts, crafts, paintings, drawings, etc
Also, there is a wide collection of VR apps related to military training, medical treatment training, and others that help create an active learning environment. With the help of effective AR technology, you can make learners show great involvement during sessions.
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4. Why Should you Invest in AR/VR?
Using AR/VR technology for your online education business, you can encourage learners to explore and learn at their own pace. VR/AR-based learning apps combine digital technologies with learning to empower learners for gaining knowledge and skills effectively.
Further, AR & VR technology allows you to teach learners through gamification and keep them engaged with no distractions. You can offer extended teaching methods with 3D design, modeling, and presentations at an affordable price.
Hence, by embedding AR & VR on your e-learning business, you can help students excel in the online business world. According to a report from Dell future workforce global study, over 66% of the global workforce would use AR/VR products as a training tool.
In this ever-changing digital environment, AR and VR technology have made the education industry to fly-high in the online space. With the amazing AR and VR technologies, traditional blackboards and two-dimensional textbook images are replaced with the technology-enabled curriculums and smartboards. Therefore, introducing AR/VR for your e-learning business is a lucrative investment.
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Bottom Line
Investing in AR/VR technology for your online education business is worthwhile! AR/VR in online education boosts engagement, improves flexibility, enhances understanding skills, provides seamless learning experiences, and many more to the learners.
If you have plans to convert your online education platform into an engaging medium, then do not hesitate to reach our team. At ColorWhistle, we have designed, developed, and promoted online education websites of all shapes and sizes.
Feel free to leave us a message or give us a call +1 (919) 234-5140. Our team is happy to help!
As an online education business owner, what would be the main reason for you to invest in AR/VR? Let us know in the comments section below.