Research Article
Nivine Aziz, Rayya Younes
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 17, Issue 4, Article No: ep601
ABSTRACT
Today’s generation exhibits a strong affinity for video games, presenting an opportunity to harness this interest for educational purposes. Integrating gaming elements into education has the potential to captivate students while improving information retention. Virtual reality (VR), in particular, offers a transformative approach by creating immersive and interactive learning experiences. In our study, we investigated the feasibility of integrating VR into Lebanese classrooms (K-12). Data was collected through an online survey with 110 respondents and interviews with 14 educators. Findings reveal that educators are enthusiastic about VR’s potential but express caution about its implementation. While acknowledging benefits such as enhanced student engagement, improved retention, and alignment with student preferences, they also highlighted challenges, including physical side effects, the need for teacher training, extensive preparation, and classroom management complexities. Additionally, educators proposed a comprehensive list of activities that could effectively utilize VR in educational settings, reflecting a balance between innovation and practical application. These insights underline the need for further exploration and structured planning to successfully integrate VR into the Lebanese educational system.
Keywords: virtual reality, Lebanon, challenges, opportunities, educators’ perception
Review Article
Sergei P. Zhdanov, Kseniia M. Baranova, Natalia Udina, Artem E. Terpugov, Elena V. Lobanova, Oksana V. Zakharova
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 3, Article No: ep369
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 outbreak has wreaked havoc on educational systems on a scale never seen before in history. The closure of schools and other institutions of learning has impacted 94% of the world’s student population. Even school closures, such as those that occur during the summer, have a significant effect on children’s academic ability. The word “learning loss” refers to any loss of information and abilities, whether specific or generic. By Fall 2020, extended absences from school will have a detrimental effect on student achievement. Learning loss is commonly addressed when schools close for extended periods of time during the summer, natural catastrophes, or epidemics. Even brief school closures might result in significant loss of learning. Due to the global nature of the COVID-19 epidemic, special attention was devoted to learning losses.
During the pandemic, learning loss occurs as a result of kids studying at home due to school closures. School closures do not have to result in an equal loss of learning for all students. The variables that contribute to learning loss include “change in teaching methods”, “opportunities to reach education”, “less time for learning”, and “emotional factors”. Reduced instructional time–provided by teachers in accordance with the national curriculum–is likely to result in loss of learning. Due to the disparate scales used in the studies, it is hard to compare the magnitudes of learning losses. However, based on the data from the studies, it is reasonable to assume that these nations are investigating learning losses and that they exist. As a result, there is convincing evidence that students lose more information during lockdown than they do over the course of a normal school year. The elements causing learning losses differ according to context. With the reopening of schools, it is important to establish the actual magnitude of learning losses and to implement remedial measures in order to avoid the emergence of medium- and long-term educational difficulties.
Keywords: learning losses, change in teaching methods, opportunities to reach education, less time for learning, less control/feedback, emotional factors