Although still an emerging technology in terms of recognizing its full potential, virtual reality offers the opportunity to step into places, roles, and experiences that were previously impossible, or at the very least, inaccessible to most. As Terry Heick said in Why Virtual Reality is So Important, "Through the use of digital technology, virtual realities can be designed precisely for human interaction for very specific reasons to create experiences not otherwise possible. By suspending disbelief the same way we do when we read a novel or watch a movie, an artificial reality can be designed to enable experiential learning, scenario-based learning, social learning, workplace training, and more. Virtual reality can be used for pure entertainment–digital toys, video games, or to swim with whales."
Top 10 Reasons for VR in the Classroom
1. Travel to and explore places all over the world without leaving the classroom.
2. Develop empathy for communities in crisis by stepping into their shoes.
3. Experience different careers first-hand.
4. Explore the depths of the ocean and the vastness of space.
5. Time travel to key events and places from the past.
6. Explore within the human body.
7. Allow students to share their world with others by creating their own VR content.
8. Discover how VR can be used in other industries like medicine, engineering, entertainment and real estate.
9. Explore how VR can be integrated into every subject area and curriculum.
10. Promote curiosity and wonder.
