Imagine flying through space in a rocket. When you land, you jump right onto the moon. With virtual reality (VR), students don't need to imagine it. They can experience it. They don't even have to leave their classroom.
Many teachers are starting to use VR. Monica is a teacher in a school of New Jersey. Her students saw the 1969 moon landing with VR. "Some students were nervous. They thought they were going to get dizzy (眩晕的)," Monica says. "But they love going to the moon better than looking at pictures of the event. It was so lifelike."
The technology of VR has been around for over 50 years. But it is getting better all the time. For that reason, it is becoming more popular. VR allows users to explore a 3D setting with a computer. They wear a headset over their eyes. They sometimes wear headphones for sound. Users say it feels like jumping into a video game.
Speaking of VR, some parents and teachers have concerns. The first problem is the cost. Many schools do not have enough money for the headsets. The second problem is that it may be too much technology for young eyes and young minds.
Right now students can't touch objects in these virtual worlds. But scientists are working on that, too. One day, in the classroom students might be able to touch or smell objects that aren't really there at all.
