Students at Laramie High School are relying on virtual reality (VR) technology to gain some help with their Algebra 1 papers.
Prisms, a virtual reality company, has launched a new beta test, which involves the institution’s students participating. They get to improve their algebra skills without having to step away from their classroom.
The virtual reality class, which features educators Kerry O’Dea and Jenny Taufa, has gone through three modules among a total of five which are in the beta test. The educators relied on a VR headset and hand-based controls to teach different math skills to students. Each module takes care of circumstances where the skills of mathematics can be utilised for tackling problems in the world.
Upon putting on the virtual reality headsets, the students become part of an immersive setting where they have to make a range of decisions. The actions and performance of these students are monitored by teachers via a computer, who can provide assistance whenever the students need the same.
One of the modules requires students to step into the shoes of air traffic controllers. In this role, they have to formulate equations that prevent plane crashes. Another experience sees the students being in a scenario where there is a melting glacier. They must calculate how long it will take for the ice to melt into the ocean until Miami is submerged.
Virtual reality technology can be used as a tool for education, for various purposes other than algebra education, according to Andrea Burrows, Associate Dean, University of Wyoming College of Education.
Burrows said that a great amount of research has been done in the domain of virtual reality technology. According to her, the technology can help to drive up motivation among students. She emphasised that the motivation they get, in many cases, are related to collaborative and immersive spaces.
Students are able to be a part of very realistic and hands-on experiences where they gain a greater amount of understanding of the mathematical concepts.
There is also a landfill module where the participating students can learn how waste management can have adverse impacts on natural areas, as they are confronted with visuals of trash accumulating around them.
Jarod Whisler, a student of LHS, said that watching the trash gather made him feel bad, during a task that required students to categorise trash and put it into different bins.
Students can note down points and also make graphical representations to make predictions regarding how population spikes can have an effect on waste in a park setting. Instead of a two-dimensional graph on some screen, the three-dimensional graphic representations give students a feeling of greater involvement.
According to Burrows, virtual reality technology helps users get more engaged due to the novelty it offers to users. Burrows hinted that virtual reality adds a high level of excitement to education.
Taufa said that the new VR programme enhances the scope of teaching math applications in relation to the real world.
More updates are expected in the near future regarding this project.
