There have been powerful technological developments in which we have found major breakthroughs in the last years, such is the case of Augmented Reality or (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). These technologies — which have become increasingly deployed in training and education over the past decade or so — have changed how we think about learning and mastering new abilities.
AR and VR have the potential to create compelling and immersive experiences, and their adoption across industries is happening increasingly.
Enhancing Education with Augmented Reality
Educators have been searching for ways to enrich learning experiences, which is why the application of AR in education has started to take off. It all started with AR that allows students to enhance the physical world with digital content and can bring difficult topics to life.
An example of this is a study at the University of Maryland in which students who used AR applications consistently scored 20% higher on examinations than their counterparts who relied only upon more traditional learning techniques.
It is hard for anyone not to get impressed by this magical feature, with 97% of improved academic performance this serves perfectly that classroom or none blended environment eliminates shockingly high percentage of students.
Virtual Reality: Creating Safe Learning Environments
In the same way, VR in education created experiential environments that lead to educators immersing different kinds of experience material; through creating artificial worlds, VR has given students the chance to work on their skills in a safe and monitored environment.
The technology also lends itself particularly well to use in simulations, such as for VR training of medical students who could carry out virtual surgeries and gain practical experience without the risk of doing harm to actual people.
After all, a study in the Journal of Medical Education found that using VR simulations led to 30% higher performance scores for surgical skills when compared to traditional training methods without such exposure.
Transforming Workplace Training with AR and VR
We now have AR training applications that also transformed the nature of workplace training. AR is used by organizations to offer their employees training that is more interactive and that they will better retain.
For example, Boeing has used AR tech to help technicians assemble difficult airplane parts. Giving examples with AR — This has resulted in a reduction of 40% of assembly time just by following the guidance thrown in live through AR devices.
High-Stakes VR Training in Military and Emergency Response
VR training has even proven useful in the high-stakes situations of the military and emergency response. Firefighters have conducted VR simulations to train for putting out blazes and making quick calls under fire, for instance.
According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, VR-based training helped real firefighter emergencies see a 25% quicker response time. These results underline the promise of VR in support of readiness and response outcomes during dire circumstances.
Virtual Classrooms and Global Learning Opportunities
This has given rise to Virtual Classrooms due to the integration of immersive learning via AR and VR. In these environments, educators have been afforded the power to develop engaging lessons that stretch out of geographic bounds.
Students can take a virtual field trip, travel through history to different historical sites, and even engage in collaborative projects with students in other countries. The virtual classroom market, according to a GSL report, is expected to have grown tenfold by 2027 to $20B in order to meet the increasing demand for new-generation educational technologies.
AR/VR in Language Learning
The use of Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR) in education has also started to penetrate language learning. Some language learners used VR to put themselves in virtual worlds and practice speaking with people in the countries of the said languages.
A study at the University of Cambridge showed that by practicing language skills in virtual reality, students were able to achieve a 40% higher conversational performance than doing it conventionally in a classroom. It is an approach that helps you not only to learn a language but also to develop more self-reliance in real-life communication.
Expanding Skill Development Beyond Formal Education
Well, you see, the opportunity of AR/VR for skill development is not just about formal education. They have become a part of training sessions across industries such as manufacturing, health, and construction. In manufacturing, AR has been used by workers to see complex machinery and assembly processes aiding in error reduction and safety improvements.
McKinsey Global Institute estimates that the productivity of AR training can increase by 30% in manufacturing apps alone, showing serious promise for operational efficiency improvements using these technologies.
VR Simulations: Revolutionizing Medical Training
The application of VR simulations in education has revolutionized the field of medical training in the healthcare industry. Medical students participated in simulated patient scenarios with a high degree of fidelity, which afforded them the opportunity to make a diagnosis and management plan without the risks inherent when dealing directly with patients.
A study of the American Medical Association found that VR-training increased students’ skill sets by 30%, as opposed to a traditional training pass case. Therefore, this enhanced the level of readiness for clinical practice situations.
AR in Corporate Training
In the corporate world, AR training technology has been a reality, too. When companies want to give their employees the necessary experience of on-field operations to ensure that they have what it takes to perform their roles effectively, they bring AR into play.
General Electric, for instance, has been using AR to teach field engineers how to maintain and troubleshoot industrial equipment. This has enabled their staff to be more efficient at repairs, with reports of a 20% reduction in downtime by overlaying digital instructions onto physical machinery.
AR and VR: Enhancing Team Collaboration Skills
AR and VR have proven to not only enhance skills through immersive training but bring learners together, too. There are team projects available to work on with other individuals through virtual environments.
One study carried out by PwC showed that employees trained in VR exhibited 40% better team performance due to stronger collaboration skills than traditional training methods.
The Future of AR and VR in Education
The future of education is in AR/VR. These future technologies are likely to improve what AR and VR are able to do, building more realistic simulations and interactions.
In particular, by integrating artificial intelligence with AR and VR, these tools can be used to develop individualized learning experiences according to each student’s proficiency levels.
A Growing Market for AR/VR Education Technologies
With educational technology trends on the rise, AR/VR will be a big part of what the future of education looks like. The greater the number of educators who see the potential advantages that immersive learning can bring, no doubt that AR and VR technologies will be embraced at an even faster rate.
Based on a report by Research and Markets, the worldwide AR and VR education market size is expected to reach 43.8% CAGR from 2021 to 2028, defined as offers solid growth prospects for these game-changing solutions.
The Transformative Impact of AR and VR
In conclusion, AR and VR integration within training and education have been described as a paradigm shift in learning experiences. Immersive environments to teach, train with real-world simulations, and the ability to collaborate have changed how skills are developed in many verticals.
The specific details of this progression will continue to evolve with the technology — but it is clear that AR and VR present unprecedented opportunities for students to develop more meaningful immersive content and build important skills in an ever-changing world.
