Virtual Reality (VR) has been making great strides in the marketplace in the past year, and it is expected to expand significantly in the next decade. To date, the limiting factor has been the size and cost of headsets that have kept the technology out of reach for the general consumer.  In 2017, those issues began to change as tech companies released headsets in more affordable price ranges.

The educational community has embraced VR with enthusiasm, with applications ranging from virtual field trips to hazard training. Google has developed an extensive library for their Google Expeditions program, which provides virtual tours of physical locations and educational materials for most school subjects. In addition, it incorporates fun experiences with education, like rock climbing, viewing the Aurora Borealis, or venturing into space.

While VR technology has far to go, it is already here for the taking. Educators and entire educational systems can potentially overturn outdated teaching methods and usher in a new era of personalized learning.

Read the full article about virtual reality in the classroom by Rae Steinbach at Getting Smart.