EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION


Fast forward 30 years and the virtual-reality experience has developed to the point where it is about to hit the mainstream. The first product to launch this revolution was the much-hyped and now Facebook-owned Oculus Rift, one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns of all time. With a product that has been in development for over three years, the vision has given many companies the time to experiment. Google probably had the biggest impact in education with its Google Cardboard, a cardboard viewing device that would allow the user to strap a phone to his or her head, giving a pseudo VR experience. Despite its almost comedic value, it did pave the way for a significant number of VR services, including VR YouTube and a variety of VR ‘experiences’. You can already go on a virtual ascent of the Eiger, using no more than Google Cardboard, your phone, and access to YouTube. Since then, the HTC Vive, Windows VR and the Playstation VR have reached the market. All of them promise to drop players into lifelike and truly immersive worlds from the comfort of the sofa. The technology is already being built natively into every copy of Windows 10. At this stage, the Rift and Vive are prohibitively expensive and require a fast, costly PC to power them. The Windows VR has only just been announced, and not many details are known. The Playstation VR offers inferior hardware but a far more accessible price. Either way, these are the first steps to getting virtual reality into the hands of consumers.


REVOLUTIONISING TEACHING AND LEARNING So what does this all mean for the classroom? As the cost of these devices drops and equipment becomes standardised, they will become more accessible to schools.


Imagine teaching the Battle of Hastings in such a way that students can immerse themselves in that world; imagine learning how glaciers form, or what it’s like on the surface of Mars, by visiting these places. Already, you can use Tilt Brush to create VR art, play Minecraft in VR, or experience what it’s like to climb Everest.


As the technology becomes more prolific, more and more developers will create useful educational applications. Let’s not forget the offshoot of VR: augmented reality. The Microsoft Hololens is a product that allows you to explore the physical world, with a digital overlay. Imagine being able to study engineering in such a way that, instead of looking at pictures in a textbook, you can manipulate virtual objects and see how they could fit with physical ones.


industry


This technology is already being used in the medical to


train doctors, and it has the potential to


revolutionise the way we learn. A few years ago, this was a fantasy world, but the reality of a virtual world is now just around the corner. Very soon, the children of tomorrow will be able to learn through a world of experiences that were never before possible – all without leaving the classroom.


The London school for international students


International Community School places students aged three to 18 throughout the year. We provide families with:


• An outstanding academic programme, the International Baccalaureate. ICS students gain entry to the best universities in the world, including Oxford, Boston and UCL.


• A convenient central London location and door to door transport.


• Specialist language tuition in English, Mandarin, Spanish and French.


Contact us to find out more


admissions@ics.uk.net +44 (0)20 7298 8817 www.icschool.co.uk


Book your space at an ICS Open Day www.icschool.co.uk/open-days


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