Why Teach Coding In VR?

Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) are projected to be prevalent in nearly every industry in the near future and is predicted to eventually replace smartphones. vCoder prioritizes CS education through the coming spatial computing revolution. It’s imperative that CS education remains on the forefront of this innovative process, teaching the next generation with the same technology that will supplement their life similar to smartphones today.

Education systems have struggled to meet the demands of our technological age to provide the necessary tools to best equip our students. New research is suggesting that VR could be the solution. VR enables profound new ways to experience and interact with concepts; as Albert Einstein said “The only source of knowledge is experience” and Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience has shown us that “people retain 10% of what they read and 90% of what they experience.”

Research studies are showing promising results that VR can make education more effective and have benefits over traditional learning:

“Compared with traditional education, VR-based education is of obvious advantage in theoretical knowledge teaching as well as practical skills training. In theoretical knowledge teaching, it boasts the ability to make abstract problems concrete, and theoretical thinking well-supported. In practical skills training, it helps sharpen students’ operational skills, provides an immersive learning experience, and enhances students’ sense of involvement in class, making learning more fun, more secure, and more active,” the study states (Bluefocus, 2016).

People learn faster and better in VR (Daydreams Labs, 2017).Immersion in VR allows better focus (Krokos, 2018).VR-based teaching improves students’ test scores, improves knowledge retention and unlocks students’ potentials (Bluefocus, 2016).University of Maryland researchers found that people remember information better if it is presented to them in a virtual environment as opposed to more traditional platforms like a two-dimensional desktop computer or handheld tablet. (UMD, 2018).EEG readings show that students maintain concentration longer in a lesson presented within VR compared with a lesson outside of VR. (SagaUniversity, 2019).
Learning in VR contributes to faster understanding, greater retention, improved recall, better focus and overall superior learning outcomes! 

VR can enhance education, especially with abstract concepts like computer science.

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