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How Will Immersive Media Shape the Future of Education?
Mar 19, 2022
In the past few years, virtual reality has shifted from an abstract, futuristic concept to a game-changing tool. Video game developers use VR to transport players inside an interactive world. Psychologists implement VR treatments to patients struggling with mental health conditions. And now, in an era of online classrooms and disengaged students, educators are able to integrate VR media into their lessons. With companies like TechRow making this educational technology affordable, inclusive, and high-quality, over ten thousand inner-city students in NYC and LA are becoming immersed in their schoolwork again. In the time of coronavirus and classes over Zoom, this is more important than ever.
VICE touches on this need for accessible VR in their short feature
“Beyond the Frame: The New Classroom.”The video showcases students being transported to ancient Greek coliseums and the space station, all with just a smartphone and a headset. “Anyone can learn anything, if given the right access to an education-- and that could be the quality of that education but also the form of that education,” Jordan Budisantoso, a computer science teacher, shared in the clip.
Moreover, this technology has the ability to empower students by helping them imagine themselves going beyond the classroom to make real discoveries. Educational VR programming goes beyond the textbook to immerse students in a lesson, and empower them to envision themselves as astronomists, doctors, or archaeologists. “It’s going to expand the possibility of what they could be,” said Seth Andrew, former White House education advisor. “It is not unreasonable to imagine a low-income student in Harlem or in Kenya saying, ‘I want to become an astronaut.’”
TechRow is dedicated to making this inspirational content as accessible as possible. The Harlem, NY based company offers top-tier VR media in a flexible solution for teachers, optimized to be viewed on their own computers and smartphones. Immersive films like Crow: The Legend and The People’s House, as well as content from outlets like the New York Times and CNN, make learning fun, informative, and engaging again.
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The Importance of Virtual College Tours
Apr 24, 2022
Selecting the right college or university to further one’s studies is arguably the most important-- and potentially stressful-- decision on the shoulders of high school seniors. On top of other important factors to take into account, like course options, location, and extracurricular offerings, understanding the general feel of the campus is extremely important in choosing a college or university. Thus, campus tours have become a vital element in the college search process: In
a 2004 studyby Art & Science Group, 65% of students polled indicated that campus visits were very influential in their application decision. But amidst a pandemic that has eliminated most traveling and in-person events, students have been left wondering how to make this crucial decision without ever touring campuses themselves.
This is where virtual university tours come in. Platforms like TechRow offer immersive 360° tours of college campuses around the country, and since the beginning of Covid lockdown’s, students have increasingly been utilizing these tools to get a full perspective of potential college life. According to
a studyby the Education Advisory Board, participation in virtual campus tours had increased by a monumental 258% in April 2020. And for good reason: not only do virtual university tours allow for campus exploration during the pandemic, but they also enable students to customize the route of their tour, allowing students to explore what’s important to them, as well as empowering disabled students to roam campuses regardless of the physical limitation they may possess.
Through TechRow, students are able to access tours from a wide range of campuses, from Berklee College of Music, CalTech, the University of Utah, and Stanford University to name a few. These immersive experiences showcase classrooms, dormitories , dining halls, and the surrounding cities, providing an all-encompassing view into the student experience. Led by a current student, viewers gain a new perspective on colleges they may only have read about, and are prompted to reach out to the admissions office with any questions.
High school seniors should never have to blindly commit to a college, and virtual university tours give students the perspective they need to make their decision with confidence.