When we delved into VR headset technology, we pondered how it could become an integral part of foreign language learning. Our intention was never to replace teachers, but rather, we embarked on a curious journey to bring one of our personalized 1:1 experiences and a class with a certified tutor into a completely immersive and interactive context. We are grateful to our client companies for participating in this experience.
Our underlying premises were:
1️⃣ Placing the teacher and student at the heart of the experience.
2️⃣ Crafting lessons that fully leveraged the virtual environment, moving beyond the typical frontal approach of video conferences.
3️⃣ Creating an environment where students felt comfortable and at ease, familiarizing themselves with the technology.
So, what have we learned from this experience?
❌ Transforming it into a marketable product proved challenging. It's akin to an era where personal computers are not yet commonplace among company devices. For us, it would mean selling not just the service but also the hardware required for implementation. It lacks scalability.
❌ In 1:1 lessons, it demonstrated limited effectiveness. While the interactive environment and device context provided a wow factor, the learning outcomes and experiences were not significantly superior to those of a 1:1 lesson conducted via video conference.
✅ Surprisingly, in group classes, it proved highly effective, eliminating the lags associated with video conference interactions that often occur in larger classes. It convincingly simulated a sense of physical presence. Nonetheless, a well-conducted lesson by the teacher remained fundamental.
✅ The level of participation and engagement from all students who took part was remarkably high.
✅ Participants rapidly embraced the new device without major issues. They exhibited natural gestures when using the controllers, and there were no reports of motion sickness following the experience.
Could this be the future of language learning? I would love to read your thoughts! I'll respond in the first comment, where you'll also find a link to the Sky Pop News reportage (🇮🇹 ) by Martina Soligo.
Voxy / Fluentify | A Voxy Service #vrexperience #vrlearning #edtech #languagelearning #futureofeducation