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Jeremy Bailenson is founding director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Thomas More Storke Professor in the Department of Communication, Professor (by courtesy) of Education, Professor (by courtesy) Program in[…]
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The most amazing thing about virtual reality isn’t necessarily the technology behind it, but the way it makes us feel. When you bring virtual reality learning into classrooms, that feeling matters more than ever. Stanford University’s Jeremy Bailenson explains how well-designed VR programs like EcoMUVE and River City boost kids’ intellectual confidence and show students who think they’re not “science-minded” just how capable they truly are. That’s a wonderful thing. So why don’t we just teach every subject in VR? Gains in learning aren’t that automatic across all subjects, says Bailenson. “You shouldn’t use VR for everything. There are a lot of things that work beautifully by the written word and by video, and you shouldn’t just shove everything into [VR] goggles needlessly.” What propels deeper learning is finding the right fit for immersive learning, beyond the surface novelty. Jeremy Bailenson is the author of Experience on Demand: What Virtual Reality Is, How It Works, and What It Can Do.


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