Beyond STEM: Building Soft Skills with Augmented and Virtual Reality

K-12 schools and districts as well as higher education institutions are embracing Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) as immersive technologies that help students explore all sorts of content in a more lifelike way, connect learning to real-world situations, and achieve the impossible in classrooms. That said, even when focused on STEM education and scientific applications, the impact of AR/VR learning experiences extends far beyond the actual lesson.

AR/VR is also a gateway for students to nurture soft skills that are essential for success in higher education and the workforce - empathy, perseverance, compassion, to name a few. Supplementing the core knowledge and skills students gain in a lesson, AR/VR experiences are interactive and often deliver a number of social and emotional learning opportunities:

1. Persevering Through Failure. In a lifelike AR/VR environment, students are able to fail safely and develop the perseverance and grit to repeat a process and adjust variables to correct their initial errors. Failure is incorporated as an effective strategy for learning.
2. Overcoming Anxiety and Developing Confidence. AR/VR applications that guide users through challenging or uncomfortable social situations can help children and young adults learn how to identify anxiety triggers and manage anxiety successfully. Students can virtually practice interactions in both a one-on-one and group setting!
3. Empathy and Compassion Through Cultural Exposure. “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes”. Students can use AR/VR to travel to other countries, get a taste of different cultures, or bring historical content to life to understand the challenges experienced by others around the world and feel the effects of societal change. Similarly, experiences that bring students closer to the Earth itself can sharpen critical thinking skills on issues like climate change and its impact on various ecosystems and societies.

 Read full article: Beyond the Science Experiment: Building Soft Skills with AR and VR

Empathy is at the top of Forbes’ list of 15 important soft skills in the workplace, along with creative problem solving, resilience, observation skills, and relationship building - all touchpoints of Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR). Imagine students sharpening both the technical skills required for future careers and the soft skills that will help them succeed in those careers!

Watch this video tour of AR/VR learning apps for STEM and CTE programs and feel free to schedule an on-site demo tailored to your unique instructional needs!