While Virtual Reality (VR) is hailed as the future of education, a notable drawback is that teachers often lack direct involvement in this evolving educational landscape. Addressing this issue, a team of researchers from IIT-Kharagpur embarked on the development of a 360-degree VR educator platform.
Kaushal Kumar Bhagat, Assistant Professor at the Advanced Technology Development Centre, IIT Kharagpur, highlighted the prevalent dependence of teachers on others for creating immersive content. To remedy this, the researchers aimed to empower educators by enabling them to develop VR content independently.
The motivation for this initiative arose during the pandemic, as the researchers observed a lack of interaction in online classes. Bhagat questioned the effectiveness of traditional online lectures and emphasized the need for a more collaborative and interactive learning environment. Recognizing the potential of VR in creating immersive learning experiences, Bhagat envisioned a platform that would be accessible to teachers without the need for coding expertise.
Traditional VR content development involves significant resources, manpower, high-end workstations, and expensive VR headsets. Bhagat’s project, funded by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), aimed to simplify this process. The result is an open-source 360-degree VR platform tailored for educators, requiring no coding knowledge and allowing the creation of new content in under 30 minutes.
The platform is designed for Android but can also run on desktops. Its simplicity lies in its usability—teachers can create VR content by capturing 360-degree photos, following instructions, and generating a lesson ready for VR experience. No specialized skills are required, making it accessible to a wide range of educators.
With a focus on inclusivity, the platform is compatible with affordable mobile VR headsets like Google Cardboard, making VR experiences accessible even in remote areas. Bhagat conducted workshops to train school teachers in creating immersive educational content using the 360 VR educator platform, with support from organizations like the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
The project’s future plans involve expanding the reach of the 360 VR Educator platform beyond India, leveraging the support of the COL and benefiting teachers across its 54 member states. The goal is to empower educators globally and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application using VR technology.