VR & AR lead the way for a new generation of immersive education.
Over the past year there have been varying levels of learning options for students ranging from in-person learning and hybrid learning to a mix of in-person and remote online learning. For kids who are spending the majority of their time at home, VR edutainment offers an immersive escape that’s as entertaining as it is educational.
By the Numbers
Edutainment experiences have been around for a while and will continue to evolve as the gaming industry grows. While some experiences might skew educational – those that blend entertainment and elements of gaming will win.
- The World Economic Forum listed problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity as the top three skills that children need for success.
- Newzoo states, the games market will reach $200.8 billion by the end of 2023.
- Juniper Research has found that consumer virtual reality content will bring over $7 billion in revenue in 2025, an increase of over 160% on the $3 billion it is expected to generate in 2020.
- According to Common Sense Media, “overall, 62 percent of parents believe that VR will provide educational experiences for their children, and that number is higher (84 percent) among parents whose children are already using VR.”
- Statista are predicting that by 2025, VR education will be a $700 million industry.
Here are a few companies paving the way for immersive edutainment.
Kooring VR Coding Adventure – Block Based Coding + Gaming
Kooring VR Coding Adventure takes students of all ages on an immersive block-based coding adventure filled with deductive logic puzzle challenges.
Created by Koren XR edutainment startup Vrani, the adventure follows Kooring, a young alien boy on a mission to rescue his dear friend Tooring “in the name of justice and bring back the laughter to the “Wonderland” of mysterious adventurous worlds.” Accompanied by a cast of curious and quirky characters, you’ll travel from planet to planet on a fun storytelling adventure.
Through the power of storytelling players learn the basics of coding while expanding their creativity, critical thinking skills, and confidence.
Kooring is not just a captivating lead character, however, he is also a supportive learning coach there to support you in building a sense of confidence and persistence.
New concepts are introduced throughout the game; the further you progress, the more challenging the experience. “The best way to learn problem solving, having fun!” said Vrani.
Kooring VR Coding Adventure is now available on Steam and Viveport.
Merge – Kid-Friendly Ecosystem
Merge is helping shape the future of play with its immersive ecosystem of affordable products and experiences. The Merge AR/VR headset has a flexible, durable design with marshmallow-like comfort thanks to the rugged foam material which fits any face and is easy to clean.
Kids, parents, and teachers alike can discover educational VR experiences via the Merge Miniverse, a hand-picked collection of engaging VR games and virtual field trips from brands like SpaceX, BBC, NASA National Geographic, Discovery VR and more.
The Merge Cube is an award-winning STEM tool that allows kids to manipulate, inspect, and hold virtual 3D objects. The Merge Cube works with 3D creation software like Paint 3D and Tinkercad. Now you can preview, play, and iterate on designs before hitting print.
The Merge AR/VR Headset and Merge Cube are compatible with most modern iOS and Android smartphones.
Spree Interactive – Exploring New Worlds
While location-based entertainment and family entertainment centers may have limited openings depending on the market, SPREE Interactive this past year launched Mission To Mars, an interactive location-based VR experience which tasks students with working together to complete a series of challenges in an effort to survive the unforgiving surface of Mars. Each game begins with groups of up to 10 players being broken up into smaller teams and assigned specific roles for a 15 minute VR adventure.
Mission To Mars was developed in partnership with European mass media broadcaster ProSibenSat.1, VFX studio Pixomondo, and the Forum Schwanthalerhohe Mall in Munich, Germany.
Looking Ahead
While we are unsure what the future holds for in-person, hybrid, and remote learning, we can expect to see more brands merging and mixing education with immersive technology to keep kids engaged in their studies.
Image Credit: Koren XR, Vrani