Virtual & Augmented Realities have immense potential to influence learning

With the internet penetration rate estimated to reach above 55% by the end of 2025 in India, digitisation of education remains one of the topmost priorities of our government. Taking the cue, many e-learning portals have appeared and are performing well as an increasing number of learners enrol themselves for online courses -- the new post-pandemic normal. Starting 2020, Indian universities and colleges, which were earlier not permitted to offer more than 20% of a degree online, are now lifting the restrictions on online learning to widen access to higher education and raise the profile of Indian institutions globally. Many edtech companies have also surfaced and are offering learning management resources, including blended learning, 3D and DIY kits and AI-based experiential and interactive learning, to provide an unrivalled experience.

Emphasis on digitisation
Realising that rapid development depends on widespread education, the government rolled out a new National Education Policy (NEP) that puts emphasis on digitisation, besides the use of technology in education. It also focuses on edtech for furthering education, particularly in the rural areas. This was mainly done to take quality education to all parts of the country, especially the Tier-2 and 3 cities and villages. This was a distant dream but massive tech disruptions across the country have successfully executed the mammoth task that was earlier unimaginable.

In the present times, educational institutions are replacing traditional classrooms with modern classrooms. Though online learning offers convenience and flexibility, it also comes with its fair share of challenges.

One of the major troubles with remote learning is the amount of distraction faced by the students due to the other content available in abundance on the devices they are using to study. The shift in studying from books to digital devices has also led to a reduction in the attention span and engagement levels of the learners.

Furthermore, physical classes offered entertainment along with in-person interaction with the peers and close nurturing by teachers. The replication of practical-based learning required for technical courses such as engineering, medical, architecture, etc. is also a major roadblock that online classes face.

In such a scenario, technological disruption acts as a blessing in disguise. New-age technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are helping in transforming the Indian higher educational landscape. They cater to all the challenges faced by the new-age remote learning process and help revamp teaching-learning experiences, making studies interactive and immersive. With this case, the role of VR/AR in the pedagogy system will redefine India’s teaching-learning space.

Scope of VR and AR and how it is going to impact education in India
VR and AR can make the teaching-learning process more interactive and engaging by improving participation and involvement.AR comes into use to help higher education students understand many things, from history to science’s human anatomy.

The shift from conventional means to experiential methods of transacting learning has seen new-age technologies like AR, VR and mixed reality — a combination of AR/VR — have been playing a key role in driving learning and edtech engagement.

The primary reasons AR & VR are believed to be the future of education are: it boosts learning retention and personalised learning experiences, increases possibilities of experimentation, reduces reliance on learning by rote, empowers educators and learners and encourages active learning. AI, VR & AR are the certainties of the planned teaching and learning system. Classroom learning is going to be drastically remodelled with the headway in these new fields.

Present scenario of VR and AR in the Indian educational market
The Indian market is at the nascent stage of adopting AR & VR technology. Various start-ups in India are presently working on discovering solutions for the Indian higher education area with AR & VR technology. Some state governments are also pro-actively aiding VR & AR start-ups by providing a mentoring guide for incubation. The challenges, according to entrepreneurs ,revolve around: cultural diversity, learning capacity variance, financial constraints, lack of technical know-how, and shallow or inadequate learning content. Educational experts predict the market demand for AR/VR solutions to engage learning will develop with time. Industry reports highlight a similar trend and say the K12 education sector is expected to exhibit six times growth and is projected to be valued at $1.7 billion by 2022.

Future Prospects
India is on the brink of an evolution in its education ecosystem. This is perhaps the most exciting and disruptive stage of this sector and innovators are ready to redesign the future of learning. VR and AR are emerging sectors that have immense potential to influence education positively. They can generate deep learning experiences that facilitate learning by doing, which conclusively intensifies learning effectiveness.

AI-driven private tutors may not be a distant reality. AI is emerging as an integral part of the eLearning ecosystem. We see several AI educational solutions coming to the fore. It is predicted that AI can fill the need-gaps in learning and teaching. It is expected to broaden the purview of schools and teachers.

SK Gupta, chairman, VSPK International School, Sector-13, Rohini. Views expressed are personal.