SYDNEY, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A major virtual-reality (VR) program is being rolled out in Western Australia's science classrooms, promising to generate students' interest in global agricultural issues, education authorities said on Monday.
"We believe that virtual reality used in this way, and at this scale, in Australian classrooms is unprecedented," project leader Karina Price said in a statement.
The interactive learning experience, which is being tested at the Trinity College school in state capital Perth, aims to link real-world agricultural challenges and highlight local research endeavors to adapt plants for the future.
The new technology, with its visual, auditory and spatial learning features via headsets and other advanced VR equipment, can help overcome past challenges with teaching cell biology, particularly due to the microscopic size of cells, said Price.
"It offers a great advantage for teaching harder concepts such as cell three-dimensionality and is a whole new world of learning," said the school's science teacher Tim Blake.
"The excitement and engagement this has generated amongst the students is phenomenal ... it has helped them retain more information because they are engaged and having fun while learning at the same time."
