The use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in education has significantly increased, revolutionising how students interact with information and learn. These immersive technologies are increasingly being incorporated into Singapore’s primary education to improve learning opportunities and involve students in more significant and interactive ways. Let’s look at how Singapore’s primary education is changing thanks to VR and AR technology and how it affects learning.
Enhanced Visual, Experiential and Social Learning
Students can enter virtual worlds or superimpose digital information onto the real world using these technologies, which makes learning more engaging and memorable. The use of several senses, including sight, sound and touch, can also produce an engaging and immersive learning environment. Through the use of haptic feedback devices, students can feel the virtual environment while visualising abstract concepts and hearing accompanying audio cues. Students’ attention spans, ability to retain information and overall learning experience are all improved by this multisensory engagement.
Students can create virtual, interactive, three-dimensional representations of abstract or complex concepts to help them visualise them. They can look at complex scientific models, investigate historical sites or even simulate real-world situations. Imagine getting to visit past historical sites in Singapore through a virtual world! The National Heritage Board has engaged in such initiatives to tell our history in a more exciting way along the Singapore River. Just take out your phone, scan the AR reader and be transported to the 1880s. This hands-on and experiential learning approach promotes better comprehension and retention of knowledge.
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Technologies like VR and AR encourage student collaboration and social interaction. They can participate in group projects, share virtual experiences and work together to solve problems. Additionally, these technologies provide cooperative gameplay and social interaction through multiplayer simulations. These activities can help promote teamwork, communication skills and the development of social-emotional competencies.
Real-World Application
Students can take part in immersive learning opportunities that encourage empathy and cross-cultural understanding. Students can explore various cultures, historical moments or actual situations through virtual tours or simulations, growing in their understanding of diversity and empathetic behaviour towards others. For example, students can engage in virtual conversations with avatars that simulate native speakers, allowing them to practise language skills and improve their cross-cultural communication. This fosters empathy as students learn to navigate cultural nuances they may not be familiar with and develop sensitivity to different communication styles.
With the aid of VR and AR, students can connect what they learn in the classroom with practical applications. They can play out hypothetical scientific experiments, investigate potential career paths or go to digital offices. Students can explore careers by job shadowing different professions in the virtual world. They can try out different jobs, in a short amount of time by just swiping through the controls. This will also take a load off career field professionals, who may be unable to accommodate during peak periods. These experiences help students connect academic concepts to their practical application, preparing them for future challenges and careers.
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Accessibility and Inclusivity
The use of technology could help students with their various learning needs. They can offer alternative methods of information access, take into account various learning preferences and assist students with special educational needs. With the help of these technologies, students can access educational materials regardless of their location or capabilities. This will be a game changer for students who are unable to study at a physical school due to varying medical conditions.
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Teachers can gather insightful data about the engagement and progress of their students’ learning. Since there are often hundreds of students in their classrooms each year, teachers find it challenging to monitor the progress of each one. Teachers are only human, after all. With the aid of technology, teachers can effectively monitor their students’ online behaviour, spot areas for development and give timely feedback. These insights allow for targeted interventions in a timely manner and personalised support, enhancing the overall learning experience.
There are more chances for students to have individualised learning experiences that are catered to their needs and learning preferences. Custom virtual lessons, simulations or interactive activities can be made by teachers to suit the learning styles and pace of each student. This would be impossible to do in a physical classroom where teachers have to take into account the needs of all students to create a general lesson plan. Students can learn at their own pace with the help of this personalised virtual approach, which supports differentiated instruction and promotes greater academic success.
Future-Ready Skills
By including VR and AR technologies in education, students are equipped with future-ready skills such as digital literacy and adaptability. VR and AR will also definitely pop up in most career fields in the coming years, so it is important to familiarise our children with these technologies so they are able to integrate effectively into the workforce.
Image Credit: https://arpost.co/2022/04/28/vr-in-education-full-immersion-learning/
The potential for VR and AR to revolutionise primary education in Singapore is enormous as these technologies develop. They open up fresh opportunities for inquiry, imagination and active learning, encouraging the development of a new generation of globally aware and technologically literate learners. However, it’s crucial to make sure that these technologies are employed with purpose and in an ethical manner, under the proper direction and supervision from educators. Singapore’s primary education system can equip students for a future that requires creative thinking and digital fluency by utilising the advantages of VR and AR technologies.
