Are AR and VR the Key to Accessible Education?
Edtech continues to revolutionize today's classrooms. AI and data analytics alone streamline tedious processes like grading and lesson planning while providing educators with actionable insights for improving learning outcomes. Yet there are even more emerging technologies helping students learn more effectively, driving the value of the edtech market to over $400 billion.
In particular, tools that integrate augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are proving especially handy in the classroom. AR superimposes digital displays onto real-world settings, while VR takes users directly into virtual environments. Both promise more engaging learning experiences that make it easier for students to learn by facilitating better visualization of concepts and promoting direct interaction with lessons.
However, these emerging technologies can do even more. Constant development means they're now so advanced they can serve as the key to more accessible educational experiences. Here's why.
Safe, interactive simulations
VR tools can be used anytime, anywhere. That makes it especially handy for students who need to quickly pick up vital skills in a safe environment. For example, VR can help first-time wheelchair users familiarize themselves with how to navigate areas with heavy traffic, like busy roads and shopping malls. Thanks to brands like Floreo, VR headsets can even help students with autism or ADHD practice emotional regulation and improve their social skills in controlled environments before trying them out in the real world.
Boosted senses
Modern eyewear already uses emerging technologies to enhance everyday experiences. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses use AI to facilitate calls, texts, and photo and video capture via voice command. They can also conduct real-time translation, recognize major landmarks, and identify what a user is seeing. These features can already be useful for users with disabilities. AR-powered specs take that further with more specific functionalities for students with disabilities. For example, those with low vision can use AR glasses like the Arges from CELLiCO. These use high-contrast, high-definition digital displays to restore eyesight lost through conditions like macular degeneration. Meanwhile, deaf or hard-of-hearing students can use models like the XRAI Glass. It can display subtitles for real-time conversations during lessons. All these things mean AR can level the playing field for students with disabilities in education, ultimately making it more accessible.
Distraction-free environments
Thanks to their interactive digital displays, both AR and VR tools can further motivate students with disabilities to master the lessons they're given. One case study conducted in Cherokee County School District's Teasley Middle School found that our immersive zSpace VR systems made students more energized when tackling new material. The result? Teasley's scores on Georgia’s College and Career Ready Performance Index rose by 10 points after a year. That immersion and the engagement it encourages can be especially beneficial for students with ADHD. AR and VR digital displays can both leverage a number of multi-sensory elements, such as audio cues, haptic feedback, and the requirement for physical movement. By doing so within a limited field of view, these technologies can minimize distractions, capture even shorter attention spans, and improve overall learning outcomes. Researchers find that they can even be used for immersive therapy interventions that improve cognitive deficits associated with ADHD, further enhancing what they get from lessons.
Personalized learning experiences
In the end, these aforementioned use cases of AR and VR mean they can ultimately provide personalized learning experiences and make more positive educational outcomes more accessible. For example, educators can tailor AR and VR displays to match the number of stimuli a student can handle or design simulations to optimize the immersive experiences that can be enjoyed by those with vision or hearing impairments. With these emerging technologies, students with disabilities no longer need to learn using cookie-cutter methods that don't fit them—because they can now access more inclusive and personalized means to learn effectively.
Article written by: Juliette Ricci
Exclusively for zSpace.com
