Use Virtual Reality in e-learning for a truly valuable learning experience

We have long known that an e-learning course consisting only of text and a single image is boring. To make it more engaging and interactive, you can add videos, gifs, quizzes, audio, and many other formats.

But have you ever thought about Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality is seen as the future of e-learning. It allows you to simulate lifelike situations, making it much easier and more effective to transfer theoretical knowledge to practice.

Does Virtual Reality sound like science fiction to you? In this blog, we will share some tips with you on how to start with Virtual Reality in an accessible way.

What is Virtual Reality?

In Virtual Reality, a person interacts with a 3D computerized environment. The student feels like they are part of a 3D world and is immersed in this virtual world that represents a certain workplace, a certain process, or a certain situation, for example.

Benefits of using Virtual Reality

The use of Virtual Reality in e-learning offers many benefits. We have listed some of them for you:

• Provides an active learning experience instead of just passively receiving information
• Helps to understand complex concepts, subjects, or theories
• Increases the creativity of learners
• Increases interest in "boring/dry" topics
• Improves learners' understanding level
• Improves information retention by connecting emotions to what is learned
• It takes relatively little time for learners to understand very complex topics
• Learners experience more (learning) pleasure
• Ideal for applying gamification
• Contributes to learners' imagination
  

Where can Virtual Reality be used?

VR offers new learning possibilities that were previously unavailable.

VR can be used, for example, for courses on how to work in risky environments, how to work with hazardous materials, or performing other complex activities without actually being exposed to such a "dangerous" environment.

This provides practical experience with minimal exposure to danger. It enables learners to learn from their mistakes, learn and practice the right skills, with the freedom to make mistakes and try again.

A VR-based learning module on working with a particular hazardous material, for instance, allows the learner to virtually practice handling the hazardous material without actually risking any harm if they make a mistake.

How do I get started with Virtual Reality? 

1. Scenarios

Virtual Reality is particularly suitable for simulating real-life scenarios. For example, imagine a firefighter in training entering a VR environment in which he has to drive a fire truck to a burning building.

Once there, he discovers that there is a person inside the building. The student can apply what he has learned in a virtual setting, without any real consequences to his actions. In this low-risk environment, the firefighter can make decisions, receive feedback, and learn from his mistakes.

Another example could be practicing public speaking, dealing with customers, practicing first aid, or getting familiar with a new work environment.

Do you necessarily need complicated technology for this?

No, you can of course purchase VR headsets (which are becoming increasingly better and cheaper), but you can also make your own videos at your workplace or recreate scenarios with colleagues or actors (role plays).

2. Virtual explorations

Nowadays, our phones and other gadgets often have fantastic cameras that allow us, for example, to create 360-degree videos. This gives us the opportunity to capture an environment accurately. Subsequently, these videos can be used in Virtual Reality.

Students can get acquainted with a work environment, take a tour of a factory, operate a new device, take a look inside a cockpit, and so on.

Virtual Reality offers fantastic opportunities to digitally explore new environments that may not have been available to students before.

As you can see, Virtual Reality offers a lot of possibilities to bring an e-learning environment to life even more.

At Pluvo, we are also very enthusiastic about Virtual Reality and we are happy to help you discover the possibilities for your e-learning!

Send a message through the chat, and we would be happy to think along with you.