CONTEXT
The German Ministry of Schools and Education of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is setting new standards for digital teaching and learning infrastructures as part of a pilot project. A central component of the project is the collaboration with VIL GmbH, Europe’s largest provider of VR education content, and its exclusive hardware partner, VR Expert, the largest distributor of VR headsets in Europe.
VIL GmbH is responsible for providing the software, mobile device management (MDM) and training for the district media centers (KMZ) and the centers for practical teacher training (ZfsL), while VR Expert provides the VR headsets. The initiative, funded by the DigitalPakt Schule, aims to promote forward-looking teaching development through the use of VR technology. Deutsche Telekom Business Solutions GmbH was commissioned to provide the technology as part of a Europe-wide tender process.
The Ministry of Education in NRW now uses around 3,000 Pico Neo 3 headsets across approximately 79 media centers to bring immersive VR learning into schools, combining robust, data-secure devices with staff training for easy, effective classroom use.
CHALLENGE
The pilot project faces the challenge of creating a comprehensive technical infrastructure that enables teachers and pupils to use VR-supported teaching and learning materials in their lessons. Several aspects need to be taken into account:
Technical provision: Around 3,000 VR headsets must be procured and distributed to all KMZ rental locations and ZfsL by the end of 2024. The devices and infrastructure must be tailored to the specific requirements of the education sector, including data protection and ease of use.
Didactic integration: The pedagogical and didactic potential of VR technologies must be integrated into subject teaching. This includes testing practical VR applications that open up new possibilities, particularly with regard to learning content that is difficult to access or abstract.
Logistical implementation: A central distribution network must be developed to enable the smooth lending of VR technology to schools. In addition, teachers and staff in the KMZ and ZfsL must be trained in the use of the technology.
SOLUTION
As part of the pilot project, VR Expert is playing a central role in the supply of VR hardware. Specifically, VR Expert is providing 3,000 Pico Neo 3 VR headsets, which were selected for this project due to their special features.
The Pico Neo 3 impresses with its durability and robustness, which makes it ideal for frequent use in a school environment. In addition, it offers excellent value for money, which is particularly attractive for the education sector, as schools can rely on reliable technology without stretching financial limits. Another key benefit is the high level of data protection that is central to Pico headsets, which is particularly important in the education sector.
The devices will be delivered to the 46 district media centers in North Rhine-Westphalia and 33 ZfsL locations. There, schools and teachers can borrow the VR headsets free of charge for school lessons and try them out in various educational contexts.
In addition, a comprehensive training program will be implemented by March 2025 to ensure that employees at the rental locations and teachers are trained in the use and integration of VR technology.
VR technology opens up completely new possibilities in education: learners can immerse themselves in immersive, virtual environments and gain hands-on experience that would otherwise not be possible due to danger, distance or ethical concerns. This form of “original encounter” promotes action-oriented learning by making learning content that is difficult to access directly and interactively tangible.
The project is not only an investment in modern technology, but also a strategic step towards strengthening the media skills of pupils and teachers and creating an innovative learning environment based on nationwide cooperation between schools, KMZ and ZfsL.
COMPANY: VR Expert
