Can VR Improve Empathy in Education?

Virtual reality (VR) isn’t just for gamers anymore. More and more, it’s being used in classrooms to change the way we teach and learn. One big question educators and researchers are now asking is: Can VR help students become more empathetic?

The short answer is yes—VR can boost empathy when used the right way. In this article, we’ll break down how this technology works, why it matters in education, and what teachers and schools should keep in mind when using VR to support emotional learning.

Let’s take a closer look at how stepping into someone else’s virtual shoes could change the way we learn—and feel.

What Is VR, and How Is It Used in Education?

First, let’s quickly explain what virtual reality is. Virtual reality creates a computer-generated environment that you can explore and interact with, usually through a headset. It feels like you’re inside the world, not just looking at a screen.

In schools and universities, VR is already being used for:

Virtual field trips to historical landmarks or outer space
Science simulations, like walking through the human body
Practice for hands-on tasks, like surgery or auto repair

But now, it’s starting to play a role in teaching something just as important: empathy.

Why Is Empathy Important in Learning?

Empathy is the ability to understand and share how someone else feels. It helps students:

Work better in teams
Build stronger relationships
Respond kindly to different points of view
Make thoughtful decisions

As classrooms become more diverse and connected, empathy is a must-have skill—not just for school, but for life. And yet, it’s not always easy to teach.

How VR Can Help Teach Empathy

So how does VR come in?

Here’s the idea: virtual reality places students inside another person’s experience. Instead of reading about someone’s life or watching a video, they can feel what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes.

For example:

A VR story might let a student experience life as a refugee escaping conflict.
Another might show what it’s like to live with a disability.
Some apps help students understand racism, bullying, or poverty from a first-person point of view.

Because VR feels real, it often creates a stronger emotional response. This can lead to deeper understanding and, as research shows, more empathy.

What the Research Says

Several studies support the idea that virtual reality can increase empathy:

Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab found that people who experienced homelessness in VR showed more compassion and were more likely to support related causes than those who just read about it (source).
A 2020 report by Common Sense Media revealed that immersive VR experiences helped students understand issues like bias and inequality more effectively than traditional media (source).
A University of Barcelona study showed that people using VR to experience domestic violence from the victim’s perspective became more sensitive to the issue afterward (source).

While more research is still needed, early results are very promising.

Real-World Classroom Examples

Schools are already using virtual reality to build empathy in creative ways. For instance:

Clouds Over Sidra, a VR experience developed by the UN, lets students see life through the eyes of a 12-year-old Syrian refugee.
The Empathy Machine, an app used in some U.S. high schools, helps students explore the challenges of LGBTQ+ youth.
In the UK, teachers use VR to simulate experiences of students with learning differences like dyslexia, helping classmates understand how they feel every day.

These tools can open powerful discussions and lead to positive changes in behavior.

Things to Keep in Mind

Although VR is exciting, it’s important to use it wisely. Here are a few tips for schools and educators:

Choose meaningful content. Make sure the VR experiences are based on real-life stories and guided by experts.
Include reflection time. After using VR, give students space to talk or write about how they felt and what they learned.
Balance emotion with context. Students need facts and support to fully understand what they’ve experienced.
Be mindful of triggers. Some VR stories can be intense, so check in with students and offer opt-outs if needed.

Also, keep in mind that VR is a tool, not a complete solution. It works best when combined with open discussions, literature, and human interaction.

The Future of Empathy Learning

As VR becomes more affordable and accessible, it could play a bigger role in teaching emotional intelligence. Some experts even predict that VR might one day be as common as textbooks in classrooms.

Still, empathy doesn’t come from technology alone. It grows through practice, curiosity, and kindness. VR just gives us a new way to start that journey.

Final Thoughts

In a world where understanding others is more important than ever, virtual reality has the potential to be a powerful empathy-building tool. By letting students live someone else’s story, it creates emotional connections that go beyond screens and textbooks.

So yes, VR can absolutely improve empathy in education—if we use it thoughtfully, guide students through it, and keep the human element at the center.