POLOKWANE – Learners at Laerskool Pietersburg Noord (Noordskool) had an exciting and immersive experience last Wednesday and Thursday, as they explored colourful, fun and educational videos through virtual reality (VR) in their classrooms.
The sessions were guided by VR Education instructors Max Kalonji and Junior Ndlovu, who assisted the learners with placing the VR headsets and preparing for the 3D educational videos.
Before the experience began, Kalonji briefed the learners on what to expect and outlined the safety rules.
He explained that augmented reality (AR) on smart devices can overlay educational text to provide interactive and a meaningful learning experience.
“Virtual reality creates an entire digital environment – a 360-degree, immersive user experience that feels real. In this setting, learners interact with what they see as if they were truly there,” Kalonji told Review.
He said VR education has the potential to benefit and engage learners of all ages across various educational phases, enhancing both engagement and knowledge retention.
During their two-day visit to Noordskool, learners experienced a variety of thrilling videos, including exploring the ocean depths inside shark tanks, riding wild roller coasters, and encountering different animals in a virtual safari.
The audio-visual setup, with loudspeakers enhancing the ambiance, made the experience even more lifelike.
The classrooms echoed with screams of excitement as the learners were captivated by the vivid visuals through their headsets.