In a nutshell, a virtual reality classroom is a learning space (whether online or offline) that leverages VR to enhance the learning process. Currently, not too many schools have already adopted this concept. However, as the popularity of this technology grows, we expect it to become more widespread in education. And it can have both positive and negative consequences.

The global virtual reality in education market was valued at $4.40 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $42.40 billion by 2032. The enormous CAGR of this market (28.5%) indicates the rapidly growing popularity of VR technology in classrooms across the globe. But what does it mean for students, in particular?

The Benefits of VR in a Classroom

Even though it’s not fully here yet, virtual reality has already shown many benefits in the educational sector. There are four core benefits that indicate that VR classrooms might become the future of learning.

Enhanced Student Engagement

According to studies and polls, as many as 50% of students report not being engaged in their studies most of the time, with 80% of educators being seriously concerned about low engagement levels in conventional classroom-based learning. Indeed, modern students tend to have too much on their plates, including exam anxiety, work, loads of academic assignments, and more. All these things add too much pressure and don’t let students stay engaged easily during their daily classes. Under this pressure, many students tend to maintain low attendance, use do my assignment services to handle their tasks, and otherwise avoid schoolwork.

On the other side, technology has always been linked to increased engagement. And new technology, such as virtual reality, has shown a positive effect on student engagement. A study of 160 students from Stanford University and Technical University in Denmark showed a whopping 76% increase in learning effectiveness with the use of VR compared to other methods.

Hands-On Experience That’s Not Possible in Traditional Classrooms

Virtual reality classrooms enable us to create immersive learning experiences that supply students with hands-on experience they can’t otherwise get in the classroom. For example, medical students could conduct surgeries in almost real-world environments.

Such immersion can help students learn new concepts faster. Additionally, it can help them acquire professional skills and experiences in a safe environment.

Mitigation of Language and Other Learning Barriers

The next benefit might be less obvious. But it has a lot of weight. As we all know, language barriers and various disabilities can greatly hold some students back from participating in classroom activities and receiving the same quality of education as their peers.

Virtual reality has the potential to solve this problem forever. Classrooms that leverage this technology enable educators to implement different languages and navigation features into their classes. This can help foreign students improve their performances. Also, advanced navigation features can help students with neurodevelopmental disorders to hone their communication skills. The benefits are multiple.

Improved Confidence

By ensuring an inclusive learning experience and helping students acquire hands-on skills and experiences, virtual reality classrooms can also help young people gain more confidence.

Studies reveal an impressive 275% confidence boost in learners who undergo VR training. For comparison, confidence levels are only 40% for traditional classroom learning and 35% for online learning.

The Downsides of VR in a Classroom

Despite obvious benefits, VR (like any other technology) has a list of potential drawbacks. In the field of education, we can outline the following negative impacts:

• High costs of implementation;
• Reduced human interactions in the classroom;
• Less flexibility;
• Setup, maintenance, and functionality challenges;
• Increased addiction to the virtual world among students, etc.

Yet, the biggest implication is security. Technologies that interact with reality, including VR, AR, and MR, are still quite fresh and, thus, vulnerable. The key cybersecurity risks associated with them include:

• Privacy – VR tools can collect and misuse sensitive information about users, including their biometric data and online activity records.
• Hackers – Immersive technologies aren’t fully protected from hackers’ attacks. With these technologies, hackers could adjust realities and manipulate users.
• Physical safety risks – Finally, there are also certain concerns about VR users’ health and safety. Students in VR sets might be unaware of their surroundings, which can lead to injuries. Also, about 25%-40% of users are facing VR motion sickness that can manifest with dizziness, headaches, nausea, etc. On top of that, there are typical technology-related risks like excessive eye strain.

The Bottom Line

Virtual reality is already reshaping traditional learning. It brings to the table a wide range of benefits, such as improved engagement, inclusivity, confidence, and hands-on experience. These benefits urge many people to see this technology as the future of better, more efficient learning.

On the other hand, the potential cybersecurity and physical safety risks are still there. Students exposed to VR technology frequently can experience a variety of safety challenges, which can make virtual reality classrooms a real security nightmare.

The verdict? We believe that VR classrooms will be here to stay and will keep enhancing learning experiences for students. Nevertheless, we have to admit the potential hazards and teach faculty staff and students safe and beneficial ways to leverage this technology in the classroom.