This content was published: April 24, 2023. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
The Role of Virtual Reality in The Democratization of Information for Underprivileged Communities Through Education
Written by: Jessica Santos
Virtual reality is a massive step towards solving the United States’ education gap. VR is a 3D simulation generated by a computer, and it’s used mostly for gaming purposes, but its advances have taken the technology to new areas, including education. Having access to the simulations can be expensive since it requires access to special gadgets, such as specific goggles and gloves, for example. However, the technology has advanced enough nowadays that it is perfectly possible to access VR simulations using affordable gadgets and a smartphone.
The education system is an ongoing problem around the world, as suggested by UNICEF, “Over 600 million children and adolescents worldwide are unable to attain minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics, even though two thirds of them are in school”. The reasons for this disparity in the education system are many, but one of the principal reasons is that the standardized curriculum is unable to adapt to students’ particularities in the learning process.
Standardized curriculum has proven to be overall inefficient for the learning process of students since the teachers are compelled to cover the content instead of focusing on the student’s complete comprehension. On the other hand, private schools have the flexibility to develop a personalized curriculum, and according to Mark Dynarski, founder and owner of Pemberton Research, “Numerous studies have shown that private schools, on the whole, offer a more positive peer environment.”. Even though private schools have an advantage, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development affirmed that in a 2012 census, American schools ranked 14th in reading and 25th in math compared to 27 other countries, such as Japan and China.
A recent Stanford Medicine study accompanied 250 students for a period of 5 years and concluded that, at the end of that study, 99% had smartphones. This information shows us how widely smartphones are accessible for children and teenagers, and the importance of this study is that virtual reality in education can be successfully implemented for most American students.
Virtual reality gadgets materialize as an assertive and accessible solution; through mobile applications, YouTube 360 degree videos, and products such as Google Cardboard, students can have access to the technology for affordable pricing or even free of charge. Studies have shown that virtual reality can improve learning, support students in overcoming some types of phobias, and even increase performance and motivation. Furthermore, VR devices can provide underprivileged students the opportunity to virtually explore historical landmarks, other countries, and attend field trips, as well as experience book reading.
Immersion VR is an excellent example of a virtual book reading experience. Immersion VR is an application that allows the reader to experience and interact with the story. A great advantage is that the application supports a wide range of media, such as PDF, Amazon Kindle, and text. Although the product is only available through Oculus VR, there are similar applications being developed for mobile devices.
Solving the education gap in the world is not an easy task, but as seen here, there are steps to take towards solving it. It only takes governments and even private organizations to take an interest in the issue and invest funds and time in it, benefiting not only the individuals but the whole society. Even an issue such as the one in education can be overcome if the efforts are united toward a common goal. Not all hope is lost, and this utopian advanced society can be closer than we think.