Extended Reality in Education: VR, AR and More!

The ever-evolving world of educational innovations consistently pushes the boundaries of how we comprehend, interact with, and reshape our understanding of the world. Leading this transformative wave in contemporary times is extended reality (XR) in education. By seamlessly integrating virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and a host of other immersive technologies, XR isn't just enhancing learning — it's revolutionizing it.

Picture this: With XR, a student in Tokyo, a professor in Paris, and a historical site in Rome can all converge in a shared virtual space. This power to bridge the vast chasms of time and space has revolutionized online learning, making it more engaging and immersive than ever before. No longer are digital classrooms bound by the limitations of screen and distance; with XR, they're vivid, interactive, and tangible. Programs, especially ones like Art History, are pioneering this shift, turning traditional study into an immersive journey across eras and continents.

Are you intrigued by how XR can shape the future of education? Ever wondered about its transformative potential in a classroom setting? Join us as we navigate the exciting realm of XR in education, shedding light on its expansive capabilities and the boundless opportunities it presents.

What is Extended Reality (XR), Anyway?

In the bustling landscape of today's technological evolution, extended reality stands as a beacon, drawing curious minds into a realm where the boundaries between the digital and physical world blur. Let's embark on a journey to decipher this fascinating world.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality is a technology that uses computer-generated environments to simulate realistic user experiences. It is designed to immerse individuals in a three-dimensional world, which can be explored and interacted with in a way that feel as though they are actually present.

VR typically involves the use of a VR headset—a head-mounted, high-resolution display that covers the user's field of vision, includes headphones or speakers, and uses sensors to track head and hand movements to create a sense of presence, immersion, and dimension. These 3D, 360-degree environments can be a simulation of a real place or an entirely fictional world. VR requires powerful computers or gaming consoles to render complex 3D graphics in real-time, ensuring a smooth and responsive user experience. Virtual reality can be useful in a variety of applications, such as gaming, education, architecture projects, healthcare treatments, social events or experiences, and training and simulation.

Extended Reality (XR) vs. Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality is a subset of extended reality. While VR is a specific technology that immerses users entirely in a virtual world, XR is an umbrella term encompassing a broader spectrum of immersive technologies that include VR, AR, and MR, which combine or extend reality in different ways. A VR user is isolated from the real, physical world in a totally virtual environment, whereas XR technology might integrate both real and virtual elements.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality technology enhances our perception of reality by overlaying digital information or other virtual objects and content in real time onto the real-world environment. Through smartphones, tablets, or AR glasses, users can see and interact with both the physical and virtual elements simultaneously.

AR content is often interactive and responds to the user's actions or physical environment, allowing them to manipulate, explore, and engage with digital objects like text, images, animations, or 3D models. These systems can also pick up contextual information using sensors such as cameras, GPS, and accelerometers to understand the user's location, orientation, and surroundings.

This technology has a wide range of applications—from mobile apps and games to education, navigation, remote assistance, and industry-specific uses in fields like healthcare, engineering, retail, and architecture. Examples of augmented reality include Pokémon GO for mobile devices and AR glasses like Google Glass.

Mixed Reality (MR)

Mixed reality is a blend of the real world and virtual elements, where digital objects can interact with and be anchored to physical objects. MR is considered to fall on a spectrum somewhere between AR and VR, allowing for a more seamless integration of real and virtual elements, with a high degree of interactivity and presence. Mixed reality is designed to make it challenging to distinguish between the real and virtual components, leading to a more immersive XR experience. Users interact with elements often with precise hand or gesture controls, voice commands, or other intuitive interfaces. This interactivity enables users to manipulate virtual objects, move them around, or perform actions within the mixed environment.

Uses for MR serve both practical and entertainment purposes including architecture and engineering, 3D modeling of designs, remote collaboration, surgery planning, and gaming experiences.

Extended Reality (XR) vs. Mixed Reality (MR)

What is XR in relation to MR? As mentioned above, extended reality is a term that encompasses individual immersive technologies like MR. Mixed reality specifically refers to the technology and experiences that sit between the virtual and real worlds, offering a high level of integration and responsiveness between both realms. The distinguishing feature of MR is the seamless coexistence of real and virtual elements, creating an environment where they interact in a natural and convincing manner.

Extended Reality Examples of VR, AR and MR

Inside her cozy home office, Dr. Johnson, an online art history instructor, slips on a state-of-the-art headset. With this gesture, her surroundings shift. No longer is she in her room; she now stands amidst the vibrant streets of ancient Rome. As she marvels at the scene, her students, each connecting from their own unique locations and donning similar headsets, join her in this virtual exploration. This encapsulates the allure of virtual reality—a realm where the digital envelopes the user, transcending physical boundaries, igniting imagination and curiosity.

In a sunny park, Liam props up his tablet, scanning the horizon. To a passerby, it may seem like a casual glance. However, for Liam, a magnificent dragon appears, soaring above the trees, its wings casting vast shadows on the ground below. Though this dragon isn't physically present, augmented reality superimposes this digital marvel onto Tim's real-world view, making myths seem almost palpable.

Meanwhile, in her quiet study corner at home, Sofia, an aspiring architect, examines a digital draft of a skyscraper on her screen. As she repositions a beam, a holographic visualization dynamically adjusts, illustrating the shifting play of light and shadow. This seamless melding of tangible input and digital feedback embodies mixed reality, harmonizing the tactile with the virtual to create an integrated experience.

In education, XR is more than just a techy buzzword; it's revolutionizing how knowledge is imparted. It transforms the abstract into the tangible, the past into the present, and the complexities into comprehensible visuals. Whether it's a medical student exploring the human body layer by layer with VR, a geography lesson where AR brings volcanoes to life on a student's desk, or design students collaborating on MR platforms to build the cities of tomorrow, XR is the bridge connecting the traditional to the futuristic in the realm of learning.

XR Technology: The Pioneering Role of Lindenwood University

It's paramount to recognize the institutions that have been at the forefront of integrating XR technology into academia. At the helm of this initiative is Lindenwood University which boasts the region's only XR and Gaming lab. This state-of-the-art facility not only conducts groundbreaking research but also equips students with the necessary tools to harness the full potential of XR.

To facilitate seamless navigation through the vast realm of XR, Lindenwood University offers an extensive Library Guide. This resource is replete with an expansive database of immersive apps categorized by discipline and subject. Whether you're a student, educator, or an XR enthusiast, this guide is your passport to understanding and leveraging the best of immersive technology in academia.

Lindenwood University's Immersive Arts and Culture Hub further elevates this commitment by conglomerating a suite of avant-garde technologies. Alongside the XR lab, this hub also encompasses the Digital Humanities Lab, GIS Lab, and more, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to immersive learning.

A remarkable aspect of this integration is evident in the Art History and Visual Culture programs. Here, students are liberated from traditional textbooks. Instead, the program, being Open Educational Resource (OER) driven, equips them with VR headsets. These XR devices, termed "experiential textbooks", catapult learners directly into the realms of art and visual culture, enabling them to experience, rather than just read about, artistic marvels from various epochs.

Institutional Initiatives: Digital Twins, Gamification, and More

The transformative wave of XR in education has been notably championed by forward-thinking institutions like Lindenwood University. Their flagship initiative, theVirtual Reality Institutional Adoption and Integration project, stands as a testament to their commitment to trailblazing modern pedagogical techniques. Fueled by the unyielding support of VR Champions spanning a myriad of disciplines, students now stand at the forefront of custom-crafted immersive learning experiences. The university’s extensive repository, Digital Commons, offers a treasure trove of case studies that elucidate the profound impact of XR on classroom engagement, time management, and retention.

Imagine a world where geographical boundaries cease to limit educational exposure. Through XR integration, students now have the privilege to saunter across the Great Wall of China, delve deep into the mysteries of the Pyramids of Giza, or revel in the artistry of the Louvre—all from the comfort of their own spaces.

Further amplifying this immersion is the students' ability to craft and partake in pioneering projects like The Museum of the Lost VR. This virtual space is a sanctum of stolen masterpieces by iconic artists like Caravaggio and van Gogh. The application, a brainchild of Prof. Ben Fulcher, Dr. James Hutson, and a team of diligent Lindenwood University students, resurrects these lost treasures, offering users a distinctive blend of art and history.

The Boyle Family Gallery’s virtual representation showcases another sterling example of XR’s prowess. Developed by Prof. Joseph Weber and his students, this digital twin provides an authentic experience of the renowned Boyle Gallery located in the Scheidegger Center for the Arts. For those keen on crafting their own virtual spaces, Prof. Jeremiah Ratican’s endeavors with Spatial of the same gallery space offer a masterclass in virtual exhibition creation.

But the boundaries of XR at Lindenwood University aren’t just confined to virtual spaces. Both students and faculty have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in real-world experiences in iconic cities like Paris and Florence. Here, they are adeptly trained to construct digital twins of historically significant sites. The Digital Twins of Florentine Churches project, which meticulously digitalized structures like the Chiesa dei SS Apostoli e Biagio and San Michele a Castello, stands as a paragon of this initiative. The model is ingeniously crafted to be scalable, leveraging cutting-edge technology like LiDAR and user-friendly 360 cameras, ensuring even novices can master the art of creating digital twins of heritage sites.

The marriage of traditional pedagogies with the wonders of XR at Lindenwood University underscores the future of online education—a realm where distance is but a mere concept, and experiential learning knows no bounds.

Discover XR and More at Lindenwood University

As we stand at the crossroads of traditional and futuristic learning methodologies, XR's role in reshaping education is undeniable. The question that beckons is: Are we ready to embrace this immersive revolution? Institutions like Lindenwood University undoubtedly lead the way, and it's time for educators and learners worldwide to harness the potential of XR, making education not just a process of learning but a journey of immersive experiences.

If you're interested in furthering your studies with cutting-edge technology and even making a career out of your knowledge, Lindenwood University has programs to suit your needs. We are proud to offer a master's program in art history and visual culture as part of our 100 percent online curriculum. With this type of degree, you can build upon your knowledge and understanding of art history while developing your appreciation for the impact of artistic expression.

Looking to start your formal education in art history? Explore our bachelor's in art history and visual culture. In this fully online program, you'll learn the basics of various art periods and their impact on today's culture, politics, society, and more.

Learn more about Lindenwood University's undergraduate and graduate art programs by requesting more information today. If you're ready to dive in, you can also start your application online!