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Mar 7, 2022, 12:56 AM

Budgeting for Virtual Reality Content- How Much Does It Cost to Implement VR in Education

Budgeting for Virtual reality content

Education is the key to building a secure and progressive future. Today, better knowledge transfer is possible with cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality (VR). Educators are getting excited about the potential of using immersive technology like virtual reality (VR). However, many consider virtual reality too expensive.

But what if we could show you VR is not too expensive?

In fact, VR is more cost-effective than you think. As technology becomes more advanced, the cost of VR equipment becomes less, and the cost to adopt virtual reality becomes more affordable.

Want to learn cost-effective methods to implement virtual reality in classrooms?

Join our webinar on March 9, 2022, to learn more about "Budgeting for virtual reality content," and how to effectively allocate funds for VR content in education.

Here is an overview of our blog

1. What is Virtual Reality?
2. The Current State of VR in Education
3. What is the Budget Required to Create a VR Classroom?
    a. VR Headsets
    b. Extended Reality System
    c. Content Production
    d. Software Development
4. Why Should You Invest in VR-Based Learning?
    a. Visualized Learning
    b. Boost Student Engagement
    c. Learning Beyond the Classroom
    d. Sense of Fun Rather Than a Chore
5. Virtual Reality Teaching Ideas
6. Get Ready for Experiential Learning


What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation that allows users to interact with an immersive virtual 3D environment. Although the virtual environment does not physically exist, once you put on the VR headset, the immersive nature of virtual reality will change your perception and make the simulated environment feel real.

The Current State of VR in Education

VR is widely used across various fields including education, and people have started to witness the impact of VR on a daily basis.

Stats show that education is one of the sectors to have the most immersive technology disruptions.

Sectors that have more disruptions by immersive technologies in 2021

(Source: PerkinsCoie 2020)


The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the adoption of immersive technologies. As per a report by Maximize Market Research, the global market for virtual reality in education is expected to reach $18.71 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 42.9%.

Global Virtual reality in education market

(Source


From these stats, it is evident that many educators are realizing the potential of VR in learning and are considering adopting VR in schools.

Want to learn more about the cost of incorporating VR in schools? Join our webinar for insights on budgeting for VR content

What is the Budget Required to Create a VR Classroom?

Now, for the all-important question: How much does it cost to implement virtual reality in schools? Here is an overview of several components that contribute to delivering a quality virtual reality educational experience.

1. VR Headsets

Schools need a way to view and interact with VR content, meaning they need to invest in virtual reality headsets. Don't worry if you don't have the funds to buy VR headsets for each student; the great thing about VR headsets is they can be easily sanitized and shared. They are portable so schools can use them for multiple VR-based learning programs. Here are some popular VR headsets available in the market: Oculus Rift S, HTC VIVE Pro, HTC VIVE Pro 2, Oculus Quest, Microsoft HoloLens, Samsung Gear, etc. These headsets usually cost from $399 to $1,200, plus shipping charges of $150-$200.

Worried you cannot afford these headsets? Cardboard headsets are emerging as a scalable, inexpensive alternative. The Cardboard headsets typically cost $10-$20.

2. Extended Reality System

If you have virtual reality content in your learning program, you will need a system to manage it. An Extended Reality System (XRS) will help you manage and track your VR learning needs. These management systems are usually offered as a license-based subscription package. The overall costs will depend on the number of licenses you acquire.

3. Content Production

Unlike traditional mobile or web applications, a virtual reality experience relies on available visual content. VR learning programs are based on engaging video and 3D visuals that will immerse the user. As a budget-friendly option, you can utilize the free Android and iOS applications to create very basic 360° videos and images. However, if you want to create a more immersive experience through high-definition graphics, you need a 360° camera and computer hardware to edit the VR content. So, you need to budget from $10,000 to $25,000 for content creation costs.

4. Software Development

Creating a basic smartphone application for low-end VR experiences is a low-cost option. However, if you want to go beyond images and videos, you need to build applications using Unity, which requires more skill. For an improved VR experience, you need specialized unity applications that cost between $40,000 and $60,000. Further, the development costs go up significantly for building applications for Oculus, HoloLens, VIVE, etc.

Software development and content creation make up most of the cost involved in incorporating virtual reality in classrooms. However, today, there are tools available on the market that allow you to cost-effectively create and distribute engaging XR content with no coding experience required.

Why Should You Invest in VR-Based Learning?

Now that you have a basic idea of how much it will cost to adopt virtual reality content in education, you may wonder, is it worth the investment?

Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider investing in VR learning.

1. Visualized Learning

Virtual reality acts as a visual aid for learning. Most students learn better with graphical inputs, as immersive 3D images and videos make the learning activity more memorable. VR allows students to experience learning from a first-person perspective, increasing the learners’ ability to comprehend complex topics, theories, and subjects.

2. Boost Student Engagement

Teachers find it increasingly challenging to hold the attention of learners throughout the lesson. Let us be honest; students enjoy immersive experiences compared listening to boring lectures.

Gen-Z kids are more exposed to technology, and VR excites them. The immersive mood that VR creates keeps students engaged, eliminates distraction, and motivates them to be actively involved in learning activities.

3. Learning Beyond the Classroom

 Virtual reality eliminates the barriers of a traditional classroom setup, making learning accessible from anywhere. VR takes social/collaborative learning to the next level with ultra-realistic avatars that mimic a real-life person.

Virtual Field Trips

Further, VR simulations eliminate geographical boundaries. You can take your students on virtual field trips anywhere and help them explore locations that would otherwise be inaccessible.

4. Sense of Fun Rather Than a Chore

Most children don’t like assignments/chores. Virtual reality enhances the learning experience with gamified elements. Bringing gaming elements into the classroom makes learning fun, interactive, and engaging.

Virtual Reality Teaching Ideas

If you decide to invest in VR education, you may ask, "How can I use virtual reality in schools?" Here are some teaching ideas for using VR in classrooms.

  1. Virtual field trips
  2. Virtual reality labs
  3. Teaching human anatomy
  4. Soft skills training
  5. Learning new languages
  6. Healthcare training
  7. Teaching students with special needs

Get Ready for Experiential Learning

With VR being a relatively new technology, people can be taken aback by the cost. But there are encouraging signs, as the price of VR equipment has dropped with the latest technological developments. Numerous institutes are attracted by the opportunities provided by VR educational content and have started adopting VR. So, the real question is, "Are you ready to embrace virtual reality in learning?"

Do you aspire to implement VR in your school? XR Guru is an immersive learning application that offers Extended Reality (XR) content for students, educators, and content creators. XR Guru offers engaging visuals and promotes a hands-on learning approach. Contact us for a free consultation.


Join Us for Our Next Webinar

Title: Budgeting for Virtual Reality Content

Incorporate VR Content in Learning!

If you are planning ahead to next school year, learn about the modest costs associated with integrating virtual reality content into your classroom. Many schools are purchasing 3-10 virtual reality (VR) headsets to begin exploring the various VR content experiences in the classroom.

Join our live webinar to learn more about how to budget for VR content in schools.
If you cannot attend, register anyway and we will send you the recording.

Host: Doug Smith

When and Where:

1:30 p.m. EST, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

25 Minutes


Goal: To help educators understand the costs involved in incorporating virtual reality content in classrooms and illustrate the benefits of a VR-based learning approach.

Who Should Join:

  1. Subject Matter Experts
  2. Content Creators
  3. Educators
  4. Administrators, and
  5. Those aspiring to incorporate VR in education.

Highlights of the Webinar:

  1. Learn how to budget for VR content
  2. Learn the benefits of adopting VR in classrooms
  3. View samples of immersive content
  4. Learn how to access our free Authoring Tool
  5. View samples of content you can create in our Authoring Tool
 
Outcome: Attending this webinar can help you understand how much it costs to adopt virtual reality in schools.

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