Virtual reality (VR) is becoming a key tool that is changing the face of professional education. With an immersive environment and advanced simulation, VR allows you to learn from your own experience, offering students access to safe and realistic work environments. This technology, until now mainly associated with entertainment and grams, has gained recognition in the education sector, especially in areas that require training in practical skills, such as medicine, construction or engineering.
In this article, we will not only look at the key benefits of using VR in professional education, but also discuss the results of the most important scientific research in this area. These examples will show how VR technology revolutionizes traditional teaching methods, improving the quality of education and adapting it to the dynamically changing requirements of the labor market.
1. Better commitment and motivation
Virtual reality creates an environment that engages students in ways that traditional learning methods can’t offer. Thanks to realistic simulations, students can interact directly with virtual machines, tools, or desktop environments.
Example:
In mechanical engineering courses, VR allows you to practically learn how machines such as milling machines or lathes work. The ability to manipulate virtual tools makes learning more fun than learning diagrams in a textbook.
2. Better memorization of knowledge
One of the most important benefits of VR is the ability to learn from your own experience. Research shows that students remember more when they actively participate in the learning process, rather than just listening to lectures or reading educational materials.
Example:
During fire training, students can practice evacuation and firefighting procedures in VR. These simulations allow you to better memorize procedures with practice in realistic conditions.
3. Safety in science
VR allows you to learn in an environment that eliminates the risk of injury and accidents. This allows students to complete complex and potentially dangerous tasks without worrying about their own safety.
Example:
in occupational health and safety courses, students can learn how to work at heights, work with machines, or work with hazardous substances in absolutely safe conditions.
4. Modeling complex and risky situations
Virtual reality allows you to recreate scenarios that would be too expensive or dangerous to perform in reality.
Example:
In renewable energy technician training, you can simulate wind turbine failures or reactions to extreme weather conditions, preparing students for real-world challenges.
5. Access to inaccessible environments
VR allows you to explore places and environments that would be difficult to visit in reality.
Example:
Technical students can practice operating virtual wind turbines or nuclear power plants without having to organize expensive trips or use real equipment.
6. Reduce training costs
Although the introduction of VR involves the initial cost of hardware and software, in the long run, this technology allows you to save on the use of materials, equipment repairs, and rental of training facilities.
Example:
laboratory simulators allow you to conduct chemical experiments without using real reagents, which reduces material costs.
7. Developing soft skills
VR supports the development of interpersonal competencies such as communication, teamwork, or stress management.
Case in point:
Modeling customer service in the hotel industry allows students to practice complex customer conversations, which helps them develop negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
8. Improve group collaboration
VR can be used as a collaborative learning tool, allowing participants to collaborate on projects in a virtual environment.
Example:
In medical training, teams of students can perform virtual surgeries together, learning how to communicate effectively and collaborate.
9. Immersive experience
With three-dimensional visualization and interactive modeling, VR allows students to fully immerse themselves in the learning process, which increases their understanding and memory.
Example:
engineering students can explore the interiors of machines and equipment in virtual reality, learning about their operation and construction.
10. Personalization of the learning process
VR allows you to adapt the level of difficulty and pace of learning to the individual needs of each student.
Example:
VR modules for auto mechanics allow you to practice certain skills, such as engine diagnostics or electrical system repairs, depending on the student’s level of training.
The role of VR in preparing for a changing labor market
The modern labor market requires employees not only advanced technical skills, but also the ability to quickly adapt to dynamic changes. VR in professional education plays a key role in preparing students for these challenges. Using simulations that reflect real-world professional situations, course participants can not only acquire specific skills, but also better understand the specifics of a particular profession.
For example, in the renewable energy sector, VR enables future technicians to simulate wind turbine repairs in variable weatherconditions. In other industries, such as healthcare, virtual modeling allows doctors or nurses to practice complex procedures that may rarely occur in reality, but require perfection in their execution.
VR technology not only enhances technical skills, but also allows students to practice soft skills such as time management, pressure decision making, or teamwork, making it a universal tool in professional education.
Using VR in hybrid education
Hybrid education, which combines traditional teaching methods with modern technologies, is becoming increasingly popular. In this model, VR serves as a bridge between theory and practice. Traditional lectures can be supplemented with virtual laboratories or simulations that allow students to put what they have learned into practice.
For example, in engineering majors, VR can be used to analyze complex production processes, while in catering courses, it allows students to virtually reproduce recipes and manage virtual kitchens. This approach not only makes the theory easier to understand, but also makes the learning process more accessible and interesting.
Hybrid education using VR also allows distance learning, which is especially important for specialized courses that may not be available in some regions. Thanks to this, this technology opens up new educational opportunities for students around the world.
The impact of VR on the development of standardization in professional education
One of the key problems of vocational education is ensuring that training programs meet the requirements of industry and labor market standards. VR contributes to the solution of this problem by creating unified training modules that can be applied in various educational institutions and industries.
Thanks to the analytical capabilities offered by VR platforms, you can track students ‘ progress and evaluate their skills based on accurate data, such as response time, correct task completion, or the number of mistakes made. These types of data can be used to create standards that are measurable and reproducible, which improves the quality of education across the entire education system.
An example is the training of welders, where VR allows you to evaluate the accuracy and quality of welds in accordance with international standards. As a result, graduates of such courses are better prepared to enter the labor market and meet the requirements of employers.
Impact of research on the effectiveness of VR in vocational education
The development of virtual reality (VR) in professional education is confirmed in numerous scientific studies. Each of them provides valuable information about the benefits, challenges, and effectiveness of this technology in teaching practical skills. Below we present detailed results of the most important ones.
Study by the University of Nottingham– „Immersive Virtual Worlds: Multisensory Virtual Environments for Health and Safety Training” (2019)
One of the pioneering studies in the field of virtual reality applications in professional education was the work of Dr. Glyn Lawson from the University of Nottingham entitled ‘Immersive virtual worlds: multi-sensory virtual environments for health and safety training’. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of traditional training methods with immersive VR training in the field of fire safety and vehicle dismantling procedures.
The experiment involved 100 people who were divided into two groups: one used VR, and the other used traditional teaching methods. Both groups took knowledge tests before, immediately after, and a week later. The results of the study showed that participants in VR training memorized knowledge much better over a longer period of time compared to the traditional group. Dr. Lawson and his team noted that immersive virtual reality experiences contribute to the creation of more stable mental models, which leads to more effective memorization and better preparation for practical professional tasks.
Hoi-Yin Lee Research – „A Multi-Sensor Interface to Improve the Learning Experience in Arc Welding Training Tasks” (2021)
In 2021, Hoi-Yin Lee and his team published a study titled “A Multi-Sensor Interface to Improve the Learning Experience in Arc Welding Training Tasks.” This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of VR simulators in arc welding training.
As part of the experiment, a multi-touch interface was developed that combined real-world welding experience with virtual prompts. The study participants had the opportunity to practice various welding techniques in a safe, controlled VR environment. The results showed that people using VR simulators achieved higher accuracy, made fewer mistakes, and mastered welding techniques faster compared to those using traditional training methods.
VR simulators have also helped reduce training costs by eliminating the need for materials such as electrodes or sheets, and minimizing the risk of accidents. The results of the study confirm the effectiveness of VR as a tool to support learning practical skills in welding and other technical areas.
Research on the use of virtual reality in medical education ”Immersive virtual reality for surgical training: a systematic review ” 2021)
Virtual reality (VR) plays a key role in medical training, as detailed in the study ‘Immersive virtual reality for Surgical Training: A Systematic Review’, published in 2021 in the Journal of Surgical Research. The authors, a team led by Dr. Martin Jensen, analyzed the results of more than a dozen studies on the use of immersive VR in surgical training.
The work showed that VR significantly improves the accuracy and speed of performing procedures by medical students. Virtual environments allow students to practice complex surgical procedures in realistic yet safe environments, minimizing the risk of mistakes in reality. The use of this technology also makes it possible to simulate rare medical cases, which prepares doctors for various clinical situations. The study shows that VR provides significant support in training procedures that require high accuracy and overcome time constraints.
Study on the Use of VR in Construction Training – „The Potential of Virtual Reality in the Vocational Education and Training of Craftsmen” (2019)
In the construction sector, the use of virtual reality as an educational tool was explored in a paper titled ‘The potential of virtual reality in Vocational education and training for artisans’, published in 2019 by a group of researchers led by Dr. Michael Hauke.
The study focused on analyzing the effectiveness of VR-enabled learning in the field of construction technology and construction inspections. The results showed that participants using VR modeling achieved a higher level of technical competence than those who were trained exclusively using traditional methods. Virtual modeling allowed realistic reconstruction of construction processes, minimizing the risks associated with errors or accidents on the construction site.
In addition, the work highlights the importance of VR in eliminating the costs associated with the use of physical learning materials and in increasing the accessibility of learning for students from different regions.
Study on the Impact of VR on Student Engagement – „Engaging Technical Students with Immersive Virtual Reality: A Study in Vocational Education” (2022)
In 2022, Ahmad Rafiq, Dr. Triyono, and Dr. I Wayan Djatmiko conducted a study titled “Engaging Technical Students with Immersive Virtual Reality: A Study in Vocational Education.”
The aim of the study was to determine how VR affects the engagement and academic performance of technical college students. The results showed that immersive virtual reality environments significantly increased participants ‘ motivation, which directly led to their better academic performance. Students evaluated the ability to repeat exercises repeatedly without the risk of mistakes in real-world conditions.
The authors also emphasized that VR can reduce geographical and financial barriersby providing access to advanced technical training regardless of the location of participants. Thanks to this, this technology is becoming increasingly attractive to educational institutions around the world.
Resume
Virtual Reality (VR) is changing professional education by introducing a new dimension of learning that is both immersive, practical and adapted to the needs of the modern labor market. Academic research, such as the University of Nottingham or Ohio State Technical College, confirms that VR improves learning efficiency, improves knowledge retention, and develops key technical and soft skills.
In addition, VR technology allows you to create safe learning environments that eliminate the risks associated with traditional learning methods, while reducing the cost of training. Combined with the ability to personalize educational content and the scalability of programs, VR becomes a solution that can be applied in almost any industry.
The future of professional education is a harmonious combination of technology with a traditional approach to learning. VR gives us tools that not only improve the quality of education, but also prepare students to work in an environment that is constantly changing and evolving. As this technology continues to evolve, its application opportunities will only grow, offering new ways to learn and improve skills.
