Virtual reality, also known as computer-stimulated reality, is a simulation of physical objects and places to allow the user to interact with these objects. It is based on imitating the human senses of touch, sight, hearing and smell. In education, virtual reality comes in as a solution to many problems. Many of the objects which students are unable to interact with become more real and are stimulated to aid learning.
In medicine, virtual reality is a solution to some of the practical aspects. With body donation being more complex and unwelcomed than ever, it becomes important to work with virtual human bodies. Students can even try their surgeries on live stimulated bodies, and this becomes easier to understand and apply. Some aspects of medicine have lacked enough practice facilities. A good example is the finding of veins in babies. While many students get challenges in applying that, virtual reality models the baby using and then one finds the vein to draw blood for examination. Diseases may be tested on patients who have been stimulated so that the result is determined and proper decisions made before release.
Virtual reality is also applicable in geographical study, where it enables students interact with landscapes such as the Polar Regions which are inhabitable, without having to go there. In studying soils, stimulation is done on the soils found in layers which are very deep in the earth surface. Learners can then feel and even check the color of the soils under study. Water tables may be shown using the same technique too.
In astronomy, learners are able to interact with planets in the solar system. Forces such as gravitational forces of the earth and starts is illustrated. Learners can move the planets about and see the impact. They can also play around the stars, even the sun, to see the planets falling out of space. This is a more practical approach, and even more, in three dimensional. The students who easily learn using symbols and physical objects understand this better, and thus are not left behind.
Virtual study is more interactive and interesting learning method for learners. It is easier to teach students with what they interact with mainly. Nowadays, they interact more with technology, and technology is the way to teach them. They have definitely seen those movies applying virtual reality, so using the same method to teach them is the best way of teaching. As education is moving away from ink and papers, interactive technology is a perfect replacement.
