Imagine peeling away the layers of the Earth—its core, mantle, and crust—just like you would an orange. This captivating analogy perfectly encapsulates how geography lessons have transformed for students at Government Girls’ HSS in Malayinkeezh, the state capital. Thanks to a newly established virtual reality (VR) lab, learning has become an exhilarating adventure, offering hands-on experiences that are often hard to convey through traditional teaching methods.
But the excitement doesn’t stop with geography. Students from Classes VIII to XII can now dive into 65 different concepts across subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics—all in immersive VR mode. While initially designed for secondary students, younger kids flock to the VR lab as well, eager to explore this innovative learning environment.
The Girls’ HSS at Malayinkeezh is one of just five schools in the state equipped with a VR lab, part of the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project by Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK). This initiative comes at a time when many private schools have yet to incorporate such technology into their classrooms. “We plan to introduce 120 more VR labs in select schools across the state in the next phase,” revealed a senior SSK official.
As I donned the VR headset and grasped the controller, Class X student Saina N F shared her enthusiasm: “It’s like stepping into another world! Each concept from our textbooks comes alive with sights and sounds. Being able to touch and interact with what we see makes learning so much more enjoyable.”
Headmistress Leena CH proudly noted that their VR lab has become a magnet for students from nearby schools. “We’ve seen a constant stream of visitors eager to experience what we offer,” she said.
Nikhila Nair R S, the teacher overseeing the VR lab, explained that student engagement and retention have significantly improved since its inception. “Even though we have only 16 devices, we can project each student’s VR experience onto an external screen using an app, allowing more students to participate. Currently, we are utilizing Meta Quest devices and continuously adding more learning modules,” she elaborated.
Nikhila received training from the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), which provides technical support for this project. The engaging ‘user stories’ for students were crafted by a collaborative team of school and college educators alongside research officers from the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT), all under the guidance of SSK officials.
These user stories were transformed into virtual experiences by a dedicated team of 12 engineers from C-DAC. The content undergoes regular reviews by an expert committee that recommends enhancements.
C-DAC also conducts orientation sessions for both teachers and students on effectively using the VR devices. This comprehensive support ensures that everyone involved can maximize their learning experience in this groundbreaking educational setting.
With its innovative approach to education, the VR lab at Government Girls’ HSS is not just reshaping how students learn; it’s paving the way for a future where education is as engaging as it is informative.
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