Ever since virtual reality (VR) reappeared several years ago as a viable technology for videogame entertainment developers have been experimenting with many more use cases. One of which is education, providing a unique portal into various fields for students. Today, Oculus has announced the launch of a new initiative, Oculus Education, starting with pilot programs in three locations: Taiwan, Japan, and Seattle.
To begin with the programmes will focus on training teachers, bringing VR headsets into schools, libraries, and museums, to showcase how VR can be used for learning and collaboration. Each of the three locations will focus on a different programme covering various needs within education.
For example, in Taiwan both Oculus Rift and Oculus Go headsets will be donated to the Taiwan Internet and E-Commerce Association (TiEA). These will then be redistributed to the following libraries and museums across Taiwan: American Innovation Center, Kaohsiung Main Public Library Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei, National Central Library, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Natural Science, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei City Library (Main Library), Social Innovation Lab, Taipei Public Library (Main Library), and Taroko National Park Headquarters.
While in Seattle Oculus has partnered with Seattle Public Schools in a bid to develop and pilot a VR creation course between Ballard High School and Franklin High School. Students will spend the year creating educational VR content that can be used in the classroom. Additionally, Oculus is collaborating with Seattle’s Technology Access Foundation (TAF) to explore the best ways to train educators in the use of VR in the classroom.
In Japan, the programme will be focused on how VR can be used for distance learning as well as educational applications for high school students.
It’s not just schools, libraries, and museums where you can learn in VR, home users can also make use of educational content. Today, Oculus has launched three experiences to do just that: Breaking Boundaries in Science, Titanic VR and Hoover Dam: IndustrialVR, all of which can be found on the Oculus Store now. For any further Oculus updates, keep reading VRFocus.