Send Students Anywhere without Leaving the Classroom: Virtual Reality in CTE

Students in career and technical education (CTE) programs have many environments they need to discover, explore, and understand. For CTE teachers, transporting their students to these environments can be difficult, dangerous, or even impossible. However, there is now a way to take students on location anywhere without leaving the classroom. Virtual reality (VR) was introduced in the late 1960s as immersive experiences with computer-generated imagery presented through head-mounted displays (HMDs). It now includes several different types of computer-based experiences ranging from fully immersive environments with complex HMD gear and body suits, to realistic PC-based programs. VR technologies have proved to be effective in improving learning in a variety of occupational settings and subjects, and reports from both industry and teachers show a generally high level of enthusiasm for the instructional potential of VR. The recent development of high-quality desktop VR systems that function on off-the-shelf PC equipment and without high costs or complex programming is now bringing the benefits of VR within the reach of schools and teachers. Through this new technology, CTE teachers can now actively engage their students in learning environments that are truly exciting, motivating, and engaging. To borrow a metaphor from the technology itself, the VR door is open; CTE teachers need only to click on a hotspot, step through, and discover the instructional excitement that awaits them and their students.