VR Technology in Education: ZSpace

     I personally do not have any experience with any VR/AR technology. When I was a K-12 student we took notes with pencils and paper, smart phones did not exist, and we were lucky if we ever got to use a computer or watch a video in school. Technology has greatly advanced in the almost 20 years since I graduated from high school. Luckily in this digital age it is much easier to research unfamiliar concepts such as VR/AR technology. During my research for this blog post, I came across zSpace, which absolutely amazed me. ZSpace is a virtual reality computer system designed for education. The zSpace 3D computer is controlled with a stylus and can be used with or without virtual glasses.

    While zSpace has a plethora of useful educational tools and apps for all ages and education levels including postsecondary education and professional development, this blog post will primarily focus on the K-12 education which has a heavy focus on STEAM topics. ZSpace for K-12 education aligns with curriculum standards while giving students a hands-on learning experience. This technology incorporates a constructivist view of learning as students fully engage with the content and build their own knowledge. Teachers facilitate learning with customizable learning experiences, supports, and resources.

    This tool would be extremely beneficial to all students but especially those that learn best through hands-on experiences rather than lecture style teaching. Zspace can provide its learners with in-depth content on numerous topics that they can inquire, dissect, discover, experiment, and manipulate in ways that would be impossible through traditional teaching methods. All students can gain a deeper understanding of evidence-based instructional content through virtually interacting with their learning topics through 3D graphics.