Headsets and Homework: The Growing Presence of XR in Education

Avantis Education recently won an Educators Pick Best of STEM 2024 Award, specifically the immersive reality category, showcasing the firm’s effort and success in the rollout of its Extended Reality (XR) tool to K-12 (primary to secondary) schools in the United States. Its ClassVR tool is a Virtual Reality (VR) headset integrated with curriculum-aligned content, secure storage, setup and training. The device, including XR hardware and software, grants students access to shared online platforms, allowing them to leverage multiple Augmented Reality (AR)/VR learning assets. The award was given to ClassVR as the device “works within 90-95 per cent of various operating systems and devices, and their dynamic learning management system solves common student privacy issues that are found in VR platforms.” With its plug-and-play framework, utilizing QR codes to manage its wireless network connections, ClassVR gained further praise from the awarding body. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) roles are becoming increasingly valuable in the workforce, and as XR is becoming more prominent in the education landscape, its potential will be of critical importance to teach crucial STEM knowledge.

Following that, the VR/AR Association (VRARA) recently held a live event for EdTech, describing how XR is shaping the education landscape, whether through government funding bodies or individual institutions. Companies like PICO, Lifecache, Hevolus, Lucid Reality Labs, and 10 colleges/universities gathered to discuss how XR is being implemented in the education sector and how students are benefitting from these adoptions, with reports directly from the students (Best in EdTech, XR, AI (VRARA Education Summit 2024).

XR has been having a visible impact in education. Immersive experiences have enabled people to collaborate and communicate in novel manners, playing a key role, especially in education, going forward. Students and teachers are able to bring subjects to life via digital elements, overlaying of graphics and animations onto real-world objects, and learning in an interactive, hands-on manner.

ClassVR headsets enable the teacher to have full control over each device, ensuring that teachers are managing students, and making sure that the experience is adding value to the lessons. Not only this, students with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can now have their teachers create personalized learning or regulation environments that meet the needs of the student in innovative and creative ways. ClassVR shows that students using VR in the classroom are 4X more focused, 4X more emotionally connected to lessons, and 4X quicker to retain knowledge compared to traditional learning. Evidence of VR in the education system shows that learning through experience can increase the quality of learning and promote knowledge retention by as much as 90%. The very bottom line is that immersive experiences provide a good environment and opportunity to aid the transfer of knowledge—the combination of interactivity and visual immersion is unique to immersive devices and has proven benefits as a result.

The transition from entirely in-person learning, to remote learning, to now a hybrid is a testament to how immersive learning, either in the classroom or remotely, can be done successfully. Roblox offers virtual classrooms that enable remote learning experiences, and these experiences can take place in made-up scenarios or the real world. In fact, a school in Dallas is actively following a hybrid model, with students spending some of their time learning with the Stemuli educational platform.

PICO's turnkey XR solution is making waves in Europe, with the largest deployment of XR in education, serving 1.3 million students across 2,500 schools. Its solution integrates third-party content providers and meets stringent data protection requirements, making it easy for teachers to use while scaling to a wide audience. For vocational training, PICO’s headsets offer flexibility with content and support file sharing like large files via a Universal Serial Bus (USB). In the United States, Prisms, a STEM education provider, is set to roll out the largest deployment of PICO headsets globally, further enhancing accessibility and the immersive learning experience.

For XR to thrive within the education system, the following steps should be considered carefully:

• Approach to Teaching: Focus on educational goals first, ensuring XR tools are used to enhance teaching and learning, not just for the sake of using new technology. Align XR solutions with curriculum objectives to tackle specific learning challenges.
• Content and Usability: Prioritize high-quality, curriculum-aligned content that encourages active learning and critical thinking. Ensure XR tools are user-friendly for both teachers and students, with minimal technical barriers and an intuitive interface.
• Promote Collaboration and Communication: Design XR experiences that foster teamwork and interaction, allowing students to collaborate in immersive environments, whether they are physically together or learning remotely.
• Inclusive and Accessible Experiences: Ensure XR solutions are accessible to all students, including those with special education needs. Incorporate features that allow for customization and inclusivity, so every student can engage meaningfully.
• Sustainable and Scalable Implementation: Plan for long-term XR adoption with scalability in mind. Budget for the costs of hardware, software, maintenance, and upgrades, ensuring the technology can grow with your educational institution.
• Phased Rollout and Continuous Feedback: Start with small pilot programs to test the effectiveness of XR, adjusting based on feedback before a larger rollout. This helps identify potential challenges early and refine the approach.
• Ongoing Professional Development: Invest in continuous training for teachers to ensure they stay up to date with the latest XR tools and teaching methods. Regular professional development is key to successful long-term XR integration in education.

Data show that XR has allowed for higher retention and recall rates of knowledge. There are still challenges associated with budget, educational content creation, and strong curriculum integration, but ongoing efforts by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and enabling platforms are lessening these challenges. By implementing the above, with a special focus on educational and curriculum goals first, XR can be a powerful tool in enhancing a student’s quality of learning.