Why Virtual Reality Works To Improve, Enhance, and Augment Learning

Virtual Reality: The New Digital Learning Theory

Although there are various approaches to describing how humans learn, they all involve the systematic cognitive process by which an individual acquires knowledge and information from their sensory experiences and assimilates it into their existing knowledge. Essentially, people learn about the world around them through their experiences of being in the world. They use what they already know to help them make sense of the things they encounter that they are not familiar with. 


Learning By Mimicking 

Infants acquire information, learn language, and identify appropriate behaviors by mimicking those in their environment. Virtual reality experiences allow students the unique ability to be immersed in educational experiences, such as in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subject, which tends to involve difficult or complex concepts for students to learn. Visual perception has been researched to be the most effectual sensory modality for which humans acquire information—that is—meaningful information. Humans’ mental images resemble their real-life encounters with sensory data. Mental images enable one to better interact with information, process it, and assimilate it into their memory. Having a stored mental image also enables people to reflect on and interpret information, thus, build knowledge. 


Too Much Information

Individuals are constantly bombarded by information and data today, from a variety of channels. Students struggle with filtering what information to attend to and what is accurate. Virtual reality puts students right in the middle of the learning environment, minimizing distractors and inaccurate information. Plus, without having to selectively attend to certain stimulators, students are able to leverage more of their mental capacity to do just what they are supposed to do—learn!


Practice Makes Perfect

Allowing students to play with, experiment with, and use virtual reality, artificial intelligence, or interactive web platforms increases student engagement and motivation to learn. The more that students use technology, the more they will be able to use it in meaningful ways—for instance, apply their skills in higher education courses or in the workplace. Xennial Digital’s educational VR/AR, mobile, and web solutions enable students to remain engaged in coursework for the life of the class and increasing their learning potential. 

xennial@xennialdigital.com