Swiss school uses VR

The public school in Wohlen (canton of Aargau) "Lern mit" is the first school in Switzerland to do so: It uses VR in the classroom.

According to a Report (incl. video) from the Aargauer Zeitung newspaper, pupils can learn more about space with VR in an impressive way. With the star atlas, they can fly through space and view planets from all perspectives. The software calculates the Earth's current position in relation to the sun. The pupils can currently use two other apps. One is the Google Expeditions software. Instead of watching a boring slide show, pupils can use it to visit the pyramids or the Great Wall of China directly. They can also travel inside the human body. Surprisingly, the third application is YouTube. However, pupils can only access the 360-degree videos via a special code so that they don't suddenly find themselves consuming lessons from other people.

Using new media correctly

The VR sequences are kept short and must be meaningfully integrated into the lessons. The exciting thing for teachers is that they can see on their devices what the pupils are looking at in the computer-generated environment. This allows them to stay in control and keep the rudder in their hands. They can also draw attention to objects with an arrow; a bit like the good old laser pointer. The glasses themselves are made of cardboard, with an iPod glued to the front as a screen.

As headmaster Reto Helbling rightly sees it, VR opens up new perspectives. In VR, many topics can be presented realistically and many things become easier to understand. The more senses are addressed, the better you learn. There are many possible applications, but they are still quite limited. Games are easier to find than suitable learning content.

The public school was already a pioneer in the use of iPads in lessons. Every pupil has their own tablet. Engaging with new media and using them sensibly helps young people to find their way in the increasingly complex digital world.

"Lern mit" is the headline on their Website with the claim "Where learning is fun". With the introduction of VR into the classroom as an additional learning aid, realising the claim is certainly even easier. At least for a few lessons, one or the other would like to be a child again.

Source: Aargauer Zeitung