Using VR in Education: the Current Situation in the UK

Covid-19 has triggered a wave of online teaching and learning that will permanently reshape the future of our education system. Among the various technologies being invented and reinvented, virtual reality is of particular interest as it has many features that make it desirable for distance learning such as bringing a simulated environment close to the learners. In the pedagogical literature, virtual reality has proven to be a useful and engaging tool in classrooms. However, on a large scale, it remains unclear what services and resources are available to educators, and what implications it has on the education system. The current paper, using the UK as an example, reveals a snapshot of how VR is being used in the education system, the VR resources available to the educators including services, hardware and contents that can be used for educational purposes. It discusses the implications this has, also highlights a few associated challenges and opportunities.