VR vs AR: What's right for you?

Learners can immerse themselves in authentic contexts using virtual reality and augmented reality. A VR system is a computer program that can create a 3D environment in which the learner is an active participant and interacts with the virtual learning environment through a variety of multisensory interfaces (Huang & Liaw, 2018). Augmented reality (AR) is similar to VR but information is presented as an overlay to the everyday environment (American College of Education, 2021). Razvan-Alexandru (2018) describes AR as a math problem: AR = the real environment + superimposed elements from a virtual system.

Utilizing tools for augmented and virtual reality, students can increase their access to knowledge and find fresh angles from which to approach and perceive assignments (Horizon Report: 2017 Higher Education Edition, 2017 as cited in American College of Education, 2021).

Three authentic situations in education:

1. AR: Augmented reality embedded books–Students are able to access additional information about the content through added images, videos, and graphics

2. VR: Traveling to various countries–Students are able to visit the countries or other locations they are learning about.

3. VR: History–Students are able to connect their reading to historical events.

Want to find out more? ISTE (2023) has a great list of AR and VR integrations for the classroom. Check it out!

References

American College of Education. (2021a). Technology use in educational environments: Module 7 [Video Part 2]. Canvas. https://ace.instructure.com/courses/1946846/external_tools/118428

Huang, H.-M., & Liaw, S.-S. (2018). An analysis of learners’ intentions toward virtual reality learning based on constructivist and technology acceptance approaches. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 19(1), 91-115.

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v19i1.2503

ISTE. (2023). 23 resources for bringing AR and VR into the classroom. ISTE. https://www.iste.org/explore/classroom/23-resources-bringing-ar-and-vr-classroom

Răzvan-Alexandru, C. (2018). Virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality - trends in pedagogy. Social Sciences and Education Research Review, 5(1), 169–179. https://doaj.org/article/b8719dc51cd649e6afb50abf4108ee3b