The use of simulated environments has long been an essential component of a strong education, but the emergence and advancement of virtual and augmented reality technology has gone a long way to improve the learning experience. Simulation based learning is a powerful tool that improves content engagement, information retention, and overall learning outcomes. As such, there are many initiatives to inspire and create the next generation of learning technology that enriches curriculum while strengthening technical skills.
The US Department of Education sponsored EdSim Challenge stands out as one of the most innovative VR/AR competitions. The Challenge seeks to build technology and content that enrich the educational experience, while encouraging developers to work with open source licenses and low cost shareable options in order to make this emerging technology more accessible to a wider range of students and professionals. After receiving countless forward thinking proposals, the EdSim finalists have been announced! Here’s a look at some of the most innovative projects happening now in VR/AR education:
- The Holographic Applications to Transform Learning project from a team at Case Western Reserve University seeks to enhance and advance medical educational outcomes with the guided use of holographic display technology.
- The Embodied Labs, Inc employs an embodied patient experience in their Embodied Labs project that trains students to become more attentive caregivers specifically for aging populations by using simulated environments through virtual reality.
- The Irregular: A Mystery At Baker Street seeks to enhance specific skills related to success in STEM fields, like critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork, through a uniquely creative virtual reality experience from Octothorpe LLC.
- Osso VR Inc has come up with an innovative approach to medical learning by allowing medical professionals to gain invaluable practice in new and cutting-edge techniques by utilizing virtual reality to provide realistic, hands-on simulations in their mobile-surgical training platform, Osso VR.
- The Smart Sparrow team uses biology, archaeology, and astronomy, among other scientific disciplines to explore the story of life on earth and promote competence in these fields through engaging virtual reality voyages with their project, LifeCraft.
