virtual - Education For Live

April 23, 2022

Virtual learning ‘here to stay’ in Oklahoma education

Digital finding out abruptly rushed to the forefront of education and learning in the COVID-19 pandemic just after a long time of glimmering as a considerably-off possibility in many Oklahoma universities.

Now, college leaders say on line education and learning isn’t going wherever.

Even the tiny Shawnee-place district of Bethel Public Universities intends to continue to keep on line options obtainable to learners, Superintendent Matt Posey explained.

“It’s right here to continue to be, specifically following dealing with the pandemic,” he explained. “Education won’t be what it was right before, and in get to fulfill the requirements of several pupils it is heading to keep around.”

Virtual faculties, these as Epic Charter Educational institutions, have existed in Oklahoma for a decade, but for several common faculty districts, implementing on the internet discovering on a popular scale was unlikely to materialize any time shortly.

At least, which is what they imagined.

Then, COVID-19 entered the picture and introduced shutdowns with it. A rush to purchase equipment, hotspots and on the web curriculums ensued in 2020 so students could show up at digital courses and complete coursework from household.

The statewide closure of colleges finished with the 2019-20 educational calendar year, but numerous universities continued nearly in the adhering to slide and winter months. Others returned to in-particular person studying but usually made use of on the internet applications to use for temporary university closures or college student quarantines.

The Putnam Town faculty district already was on its way to giving a take-home gadget to every scholar even prior to the pandemic.

Putnam City also was one particular of the couple of brick-and-mortar Oklahoma districts to have a entire-fledged method ahead of COVID-19 for college students to show up at college and generate a diploma completely online.

Enrollment in Putnam City’s on the net-only plan boomed during the pandemic, as it did in virtual constitution schools across the point out, but the figures have come back down to earth, mentioned Cory Boggs, the district’s executive director of info engineering.

The college process was mindful even pre-COVID that virtual understanding would not perform for every pupil. Not each youngster is a self-setting up unbiased learner.

Putnam City developed a screener decades in the past to support identify no matter if a university student would be the suitable match.

“I assume it is a good application for a extremely distinct group of students,” Boggs explained. “Because it’s online and it is self-paced, you actually have to have a student who has fantastic parental support at household, that is self-enthusiastic simply because you have to just get it performed in just a semester.

“That’s one of the things we discovered out early on. It is not a great match for all people, and we carry on to see that even through COVID.”

Now with the virtual infrastructure in spot, educational facilities can change on the internet if required. World-wide-web-primarily based applications are nevertheless in use even for standard deal with-to-face lessons, like submitting lessons and assignments on the net.

Some districts used virtual discovering in times of inclement weather conditions, but Bethel schools realized it might be much better to have a snow working day.

“The situations we would have to go on digital, we would have a ton of learners who weren’t pursuing or submitting work,” Posey mentioned. “A great deal of our college students were being having difficulties. The final spherical of inclement weather we just decided it was in the ideal desire of learners and team to use the several hours crafted into our calendar (for snow times) as a substitute of continuing with that virtual choice.”

On the internet lessons will however be accessible in Bethel, Posey explained. Several college students are picking out that selection suitable now, he claimed, but the prospect will remain open.

The district lately acquired equipment for learners to take house, and it is nearing the phase to distribute them. Net is available on Bethel college campuses, but Posey said some students however confront a deficiency of rural broadband at residence.

Unequal net obtain is an difficulty in the city main of Oklahoma Metropolis, too. Some households deficiency broadband, and others only simply cannot pay for home internet.

“The truth is when they go residence some pupils never have world-wide-web,” Boggs explained. “That is heading to be a challenge in the upcoming for all college students. We constantly want to make it as a lot of an even playing field as we maybe can.”

So considerably, a federal program has assisted Putnam Metropolis supply world-wide-web obtain to learners for cost-free if they really do not have Wi-Fi at household, Boggs reported, but that funding is about to stop.

The district could leverage other federal pandemic aid to carry on at-property online assistance, but people dollars, far too, will cut off in the up coming handful of decades.

Dropping that further funding could prompt learners to count extra on community partners who deliver world wide web, keep soon after faculty, or go to a local small business or general public web-site with absolutely free Wi-Fi, Boggs stated.

“It’s absolutely the future,” he explained. “We have to have to get there as a culture. (Web access) just requires to be a utility and a service, and ideally we’ll get that figured out.”

April 10, 2022

Williamson County parents speak out against closing virtual school

Williamson County Schools announced past month virtual school Discovery K-8 would be closing forward of the upcoming tutorial yr because of to small enrollment.

According to district administration, 82 students used for enrollment in the university by the March 20 deadline. At the finish of the to start with thirty day period of this school calendar year, there were being in excess of 340 students enrolled.

“These (figures) merely usually are not sufficient students for a K-8 college to be practical,” WCS wrote on the school’s news website.

Discovery is one of two digital colleges set up previous calendar year in response to a new Tennessee law requiring virtual universities to be individual from zoned faculties.

“K-8 on-line was considerably far more expensive than our common on-campus presented the enrollment figures we gained,” WCS Superintendent Jason Golden claimed at a meeting with County Commissioners on April 4. “We just did not have adequate students in each course for us to even seek the services of complete-time lecturers in some of the (lessons).”

Vanguard Higher University, the district’s digital college for grades 9-12, is scheduled to stay open up with about 140 whole-time students and around 4,600 “semester seats” requested by large university pupils opting to acquire one or more virtual programs when attending their zoned educational institutions.

Discovery K-8 parents react

On hearing the information, dozens of dad and mom united in a Facebook team known as “Conserve Discovery Virtual.” Over a dozen of people parents reached out to The Tennessean hoping to advocate on behalf of maintaining the college open.

Quite a few said they ended up stunned to listen to the news so shortly following they’d manufactured the final decision to re-enroll in the distant choice. They also said the schools have developed beyond just a response to COVID-19.

Third quality parent Rajeev Nair reported with fewer than a yr in the publications, the tiny enrollment could be positive and the price tag could be an investment in the education of tech-savvy kids and in an included device for the rising district.

Nair claimed Discovery practical experience was an improvement from the start off of the pandemic when virtual faculty was challenging for more youthful grades. Outcomes of the new set-up must impact closure, not enrollment quantities, he reported.

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“We are producing choices entirely primarily based on the number of people who are enrolled. We have not looked into the TNReady or TSAT scores,” he reported. “How did the on line students score compared to the students who took class in the creating past 12 months? Was it the exact? Worse or superior?”

As a former govt for an on line instruction procedure, he thinks the district could have promoted the university much better with the goal of gradual advancement.

David McCrea-Dastur, a parent of two who attend Discovery, mentioned his kid who has an individualized education and learning plan and ADHD has thrived in digital college with far more room to target, much less possibility to be bullied and the capability for a guardian to be close by as a makeshift tutor.

“The most important component of the (Men and women with Disabilities Education and learning Advancement Act of 2004) is to supply an ecosystem for children of all talents or disabilities to be provided a productive surroundings that does not handicap an unique,” he wrote in an email. “Eliminating this natural environment deters from the most effective probable ecosystem for all learners to be prosperous catering to the masses.”

Kristy Branson, a mum or dad to fourth and seventh graders, explained though lots of consider on the internet school could result in a decline of social connection and bodily exercise, she’s observed the opposite.

“I can see (parents’) concern and their position, but the lecturers and staff below have absent over and outside of to present golf equipment of all types that the kids can participate in, not to mention the college students are in a position to take part in any right before or following college golf equipment or sports/extracurriculars at their zoned faculty,” she wrote in an e mail.

WCS parents Rebecca Hellemans and Sarah Riebau said Discovery has fit the desires of their families.

Hellemans, mother to a third grader, is an aerial arts instructor who is effective most afternoons and evenings. Her husband, an entertainer, is on the highway.

Discovery K-8 permits her kid to show up at school without having any interruptions or decide on-up needs, and she can prevent investing time at household by itself. Attending their zoned university would pull Hellemans away from do the job.

“I have a little one who is genuinely dazzling. She’s obtained all A’s and B’s, but I do sense like she’s got some anxieties, specifically in social cases when she’s having assessments,” Hellemans stated. “She just does so a lot improved at home with our animals, in her have atmosphere, in her personal configurations. A ton of these pressures are off of her, and she can genuinely emphasis.”

For Riebau, a dad or mum of the two third and seventh graders, the university presents her family some peace of head about the likelihood of another COVID-19 variant, as effectively as a more calm and connected school encounter.

“If we have to ship them to school subsequent yr, when we’re inclined to do that, there could be a different variant and then we’re stuck with the scenario of do we deliver our young children in and feel uneasy about their well being or do we pull them and test to discover an additional solution,” Riebau said.

What is actually to come?

Golden and the WCS Board of Instruction will talk about following actions for Discovery K-8 at the board’s April 14 get the job done session and April 18 conference, which are both equally open to the community. Golden plans to advocate closure of the university at all those meetings.

Board members will vote on the conclusion April 18.

According to WCS, the district’s human means section is operating with Discovery’s employees to changeover them to other positions for the future university year.

Golden claimed 26 people today make up the virtual school’s staff. The roster featured on its web page involves a principal, an assistant principal, 21 instructors throughout 9 grade levels and numerous subjects, a counselor, an attendance secretary and a K-12 bookkeeper.

In the meantime, whilst dad and mom are creating their voices listened to they are also exploring other alternatives for their children. They are weighing sending them to in-particular person faculty or getting other on the web general public faculty choices, like the state’s on the web college or those people at other districts like Bristol City Schools or Rutherford County Universities.

Anika Exum is a reporter masking Williamson County at The Tennessean, component of the United states Right now Community — Tennessee. Attain her at [email protected], 615-347-7313 or on Twitter @aniexum.

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February 21, 2022

Lawmakers want to shake up Florida’s virtual school system

Point out Rep. Randy Fine suggests Florida’s on the net instruction software requirements an overhaul.

Crafted prior to the Apple iphone, the product that allows Florida Virtual University to supply lessons and also franchise its curriculum has develop into much too pricey and duplicative, the Palm Bay Republican argues. Florida Virtual gets about $280 million from the condition to deliver its lessons, whilst districts also get for every-pupil funding for their digital lessons, which often occur from Florida Digital.

Wonderful aimed to shake factors up with the training spending budget applying invoice (HB 5101) he wrote as chairman of the Property PreK-12 Appropriations subcommittee.

“Why reinvent the wheel when the wheel operates fantastic?” he claimed, proposing that faculty districts no for a longer period be permitted to franchise with Florida Virtual.

Florida law requires university districts to supply virtual system alternatives for their college students. This proposal would drive them to seem somewhere else for resources that fulfill condition standards — potentially at a better price tag than what they are paying out now.

Fine’s suggestions riled Pasco eSchool principal JoAnne Glenn, a statewide and countrywide leader in online education and learning. Glenn opened the Pasco program 12 years back, and has grown it into 1 of the state’s largest virtual applications.

Several hours right after viewing the monthly bill, she jumped into her car and drove to Tallahassee, to testify towards the concept at its very first committee quit. She challenged Fine’s rivalry that the district-level franchises are only Florida Digital with a diverse label and reduced achievement success.

“The sponsor has produced several regarding statements all-around the high-quality of the district applications and the requirement of the franchises,” explained Glenn, who sales opportunities a consortium of Florida on-line instruction vendors. “I am not likely to allow this go with no attempting to correct the incorrect or incomplete info becoming employed.”

Glenn noted that university districts initial been given permission to consider franchises when Florida Virtual acknowledged it had long waiting lists of pupils who could not entry courses since it did not have sufficient instructors. All Florida superior university college students are essential to consider at least just one on the internet program to graduate.

Pasco, Hillsborough and Broward counties have been amongst the initial to be part of. Dozens of districts now have franchises, with Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Seminole and Pasco getting the most significant participation. Pinellas County also has a Florida Virtual franchise.

Some of the districts’ on the internet applications do not have student effectiveness that matches what Florida Digital achieves. But in lots of situations, the franchises outperform the Orlando-dependent college.

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Condition Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, built that issue apparent during floor debate on the bill. For occasion, Bartleman explained, 21 franchises not long ago experienced superior student scores on Algebra I than did Florida Digital, even though 10 bested Florida Virtual in civics and 11 did so in U.S. background.

Past that, Bartleman said, several of the districts go over and above presenting the fundamental curriculum. They insert wraparound expert services, in-human being instruction, additional class choices and a lot more, she mentioned.

Pasco eSchool, for instance, served its district devise a dwell-remote model all through the pandemic, when school rooms shut down. When schools can’t come across experienced academics for programs, Pasco eSchool has assigned its academics to instruct those people learners.

Connected: No sub accessible? Pasco universities transform to ‘Classrooms on Demand’

Currently, Glenn stated, her college is furnishing AP physics at a single superior faculty, geometry and Algebra 2 at a further, and far more classes at however other universities. All told, Pasco eSchool serves about 1,400 complete-time learners and a further 8,000 students who take person classes.

If deprived of the Florida Virtual franchise, Glenn claimed, college districts could be remaining scrambling to come across products and retrain academics, possibly at increased prices, rather than continuing with what they see as productive applications previously owned and developed by the state.

State Rep. Randy Fine [ Rep. Randy Fine ]

Fantastic reported he did not want to have district-degree systems that really don’t provide this sort of extras. He prompt that several of them started off and expanded their franchises as a way to keep point out pupil funding in their accounts.

The point out altered virtual funding formulation in 2013, in a way that prompted several districts to just take these methods.

Connected: Pasco pushes its own eSchool to retain student funding dropped to Florida Virtual

But High-quality added that he did not want to harm plans that have powerful success and give essential providers.

“We’re not likely to do just about anything that will damage kids, I can guarantee you,” he explained.

He instructed his Property colleagues that his bill represented a “starting point” to “shock the system” into discussing advancements for virtual instruction in Florida.

“If there really are very good factors not to do it, I’m open up to that,” Fine explained.

Bartleman praised him on the floor, before the bill passed. Glenn claimed she would keep on being wary till she sees amendments appear ahead.

“The simple fact that he is signaling he is open to it undoubtedly gives me explanation to be optimistic,” Glenn stated. “I hope we will be ready to aid form the legislation so it supports all decisions for families.”

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February 19, 2022

Grading online education for adults after COVID-driven virtual experience: Lessons learned

RALEIGH – Before the COVID-19 pandemic sent students into digital classrooms across the country, a researcher at North Carolina State University experienced interviewed 31 doctoral learners about their experiences discovering in a fully on-line method.

Abruptly, the topic became applicable to universities about the world. The review, which is now posted in the journal Instructors College History, gives important classes about the issues and gains of on line studying for grown ups.

“For some of us working on this analyze, it was enlightening and also a reflective practical experience,” said the study’s guide author Lam Pham, assistant professor of educational leadership, plan and human enhancement at NC State.

The Abstract spoke with Pham about some of the takeaways.

The Abstract: What were being some of the advantages and worries for pupils in the on the web method in terms of students’ experiences with variety?

Lam Pham: Geographic diversity was a big, major power of this kind of absolutely online plan. Numerous college students informed us that they actually valued the potential to satisfy and interact with men and women from distinctive business sectors from anywhere. They could not all have arrive together like that in this kind of a numerous way if they had been in a deal with-to-deal with classroom.

Nevertheless, in phrases of racial diversity, some pupils mentioned that simply because they weren’t sitting in a classroom collectively, they felt like it acted like a gateway for some pupils to act as if the norms that would be in spot in man or woman weren’t the identical norms for becoming on the net. The chat was 1 spot the place you could get absent with comments that would not have been satisfactory in human being. I want to be crystal clear that there weren’t several learners who talked about this, but there have been some.

I assume part of that departure from social norms was that some instructors had hassle handling these concerns in the on the web ecosystem. For example, an teacher could not see a thing going on in the chat although they’re educating. That could permit for these breakdowns of norms to come about.

I think we need to learn about how groups variety norms close to racial diversity and fairness, and we need coaching for instructors to be able to facilitate all those norms in an online setting. It’s about running a lifestyle that is open up and a risk-free room for learners.

TA: What were being some of the biggest things that impacted students’ ability to find out?

Pham: Just one of the top rated aspects that pupils found to be vital was a risk-free discovering setting – not just bodily protection, but protection in conditions of just about every student’s capability to assume and communicate in means that are legitimate to them and will assistance them develop and understand. Without the need of that safety, learners felt like they couldn’t fully engage in the classroom. I do imagine that teaching all over how you aid and manage these social norms is essential, in particular significant for how we set up norms associated to range.

TA: How did the on the web structure satisfy, or not, students’ want for social interaction?

Pham: In a classroom, relaxed chitchat normally transpires in advance of or just after course, or during a split. It helps make you feel like you are getting to be good friends. That does not occur in digital meetings. Persons just convert their digital camera off and walk absent. You can do a large amount of issues to get students to talk to each individual other, like use breakout rooms, but it is all extremely planned. It’s complicated to create a room for authentic social conversation on line. You have to unmute or elevate your hand to communicate.

1 significant finding was about the effect of an in-person campus expertise for learners. For some learners, even if they did not have a likelihood to do compact speak just before or soon after an on the internet class, at times they would satisfy up outside the house of the class on Zoom. By the end, a good deal of folks felt like that allowed them to form authentic interactions. For men and women who did go to the in-particular person campus experience, they pretty much normally mentioned that it was a recreation-changer in conditions of genuine interactions. All round, students felt like they could sort authentic interactions on the internet, but there was even now a little something critical about the embodied encounter.

We imagine the ideal way to fulfill the want for authentic interactions on the web is to force pupils to build possibilities to interact exterior of class together. In addition, I would strongly recommend the cohort model, where by students progress as a team by means of the program, so pupils have various chances to interact with each individual other more than a extended time.

TA: What were some of the concerns college students with unique mastering choices or capabilities confronted in an all-online system?

Pham: Making use of new engineering requires a ramp-up time for folks who are new to working with it. In order to assistance people today grow to be additional relaxed, pupils need to have the knowledge. Encouraging college students to use know-how for their personal purposes outside the house of course is a important way to do that.

TA: What other inquiries do you have about online discovering for the foreseeable future?

Pham: When I was finding out this, entirely online lecture rooms had been incredibly new. Now we’re transferring ahead to hybrid and blended designs. What we want to know is: What will student experiences be like in blended or hybrid programs? What will be most practical for them – is it highest adaptability? Or are some factors usually improved in person compared to on the internet?

(C) NCSU

January 18, 2022

Virtual ‘HealthKick’ program to focus on physical activity, nutrition, more; register by Monday

This plan supports the actual physical health pillar of the Healthier Boiler System.

Purdue’s Centre for Healthful Residing (CHL) is featuring “HealthKick,” a six-7 days digital education and learning system. HealthKick will address physical activity, nourishment schooling and how to make wholesome practices and reduce worry – all with the objective of those patterns turning out to be prolonged-phrase behaviors. The method is out there to all advantages-eligible workforce on the West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses.

The next session will begin Jan. 3.

The plan is primarily based on every day video clips, approximately 5 minutes in duration, sent by way of textual content or e mail (primarily based on desire), Monday by Friday for the program’s six-7 days period of time. Additionally, the program has four built-in, a single-on-one particular wellness coaching periods, which are recognized at the beginning of the application.

Contributors are essential, at the close of every single 7 days, to full a survey that will assist provide insight into the overall health journey of each and every individual. Wellbeing coaches get the weekly surveys and access out personally each individual week to offer you assistance and encouragement overall health coaches also will be available for in-man or woman or telephonic wellbeing coaching appointments as desired.

“Feedback from workforce has asked for additional digital and telephonic software selections,” says Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Means. “HealthKick is a person way we can get started to fulfill people requests whilst also supporting the Healthful Boiler Program and its actual physical health pillar, which champions well being schooling and additional to assist men and women achieve long lasting actual physical wellness and well-remaining. We seem forward to seeing how the program is obtained across the Purdue community.”

The six-7 days application runs from Jan. 3 via Feb. 11 and follows the outline below:

Right before the begin of the system, participants will meet 1-on-one with a health and fitness mentor – both in-human being or by means of phone. Those people who fulfill in-human being have the possibility to build their first labs and InBody evaluation at CHL.
7 days 1 (Jan. 3-7). Topic: Motion and Water
7 days 2 (Jan. 10-14). Subject matter: Diet Label.
Week 3 (Jan. 17-21). Topic: All About Fats
Week 4 (Jan. 24-28). Subject: All About Carbs
7 days 5 (Jan. 31-Feb. 4). Subject matter: All About Protein
Week 6 (Feb. 7-11). Matter: Developing Behavior to Last

Those intrigued in collaborating in the HealthKick plan must indication up by Monday (Dec. 20) by means of the Healthy Boiler Portal. The registration backlink can be observed under the “Engage” tab, “Wellness Events” on the portal’s homepage.

Healthy Boiler workshops are totally free to all benefits-suitable faculty and workers and dependents protected on a Purdue professional medical plan. Any issues about “HealthKick” can be directed to the Centre for Healthy Living at 765-494-0111.

November 23, 2021

Virtual Reality Device Helps Ease Chronic Pain

Experts say a new virtual reality device can help people understand and ease their chronic pain. David Espejo/Getty Images

It’s estimated that chronic pain affects 50 million U.S. adults.
Treatments, including medications and cognitive behavioral therapy, are used to ease the pain.
Federal regulators have now approved a virtual reality device that in a recent clinical study was effective in reducing chronic pain.
The EaseVRx device works by immersing users into a 3D world.

About 50 million adults in the United States live with chronic pain.

Help, however, may be on the way.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a breakthrough device that could improve the daily lives of people with chronic pain.

The EaseVRx is a virtual reality (VR) headset that uses techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to help with pain reduction in adults.

“The inspiration behind the EaseVRx was to create a standardized, standalone, high quality behavioral intervention where people could acquire a critical skills set that has been shown through various different types of treatment modalities to both reduce pain and its impacts. But now they can receive it on demand in the comfort of their own home and in doing so, transcending so many barriers to effective pain care,” said Beth Darnall, PhD, the director of the Stanford Pain Relief Innovations Lab in California as well as the chief science adviser and co-creator of the EaseVRx.

“Individuals turn on the headset and they’re in an immersive 3D world where they can see a new environment around them and be directed to interact within the context of that environment to learn various information such as the role of pain in the brain, how pain exists in the central nervous system, and what can be done to soothe or calm one’s nervous system within the context of pain,” Darnall told Healthline.

The VR device takes users through a treatment program of 56 sessions done daily over an 8-week period.

The FDA reported that in a clinical study of the device, 66 percent of those who used EaseVRx reported a higher than 30 percent reduction in their pain, compared with 41 percent of other participants who didn’t use the device.

About 46 percent of those who used the device reported a greater than 50 percent reduction in their pain.

“It’s really exciting. It is a breakthrough device, it’s also a breakthrough in terms of how we’re conceptualizing pain and pain treatment,” Darnall said.

“It’s not to say it will obviate the need for medication or other interventions, but it can nicely work alongside any other medical treatment that a physician or clinician will determine to be appropriate for any patient,” she added.

Lora L. Black, PhD, MPH, a licensed psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Kansas Health System, said the device could be useful in improving access to treatments.

“This appears to be a good use of technology to enhance self-regulatory techniques that have been shown to be helpful for chronic pain in multiple studies,” she told Healthline.

“There is also research showing that VR technology can increase adherence to other treatments, such as exercise, so use of similar technology may be useful in increasing adherence to the self-regulatory techniques as well,” she added.

“A device like this may help to reduce access barriers many patients experience when trying to find psychologists trained in pain-focused psychotherapy,” Black noted. “Such a device may also serve as a helpful supplement to those already engaged in psychological treatment for chronic pain.”

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychological treatment that can be used in a variety of conditions to improve daily function and quality of life.

CBT works by helping you change patterns of thinking and develop effective ways to cope.

It can be used in the treatment of pain to change how people feel and experience pain.

“The medical definition of pain is that it’s both a physical and an emotional response, so the brain responsibility in that is on both sides. The brain processes the physical aspects of pain and brings them to our attention, and it’s also the center for the emotional aspects of pain. CBT is a method of using the brain’s ability to influence those things to change the pain experience,” Dr. Matthew Smuck, chief of physical medicine & rehabilitation at Stanford Health Care, told Healthline.

Dr. Gene Tekmyster, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Keck Medicine of USC, said that pain can change the way people think.

“Pain is multifactorial. There is an incredibly large psychological component. There are so many things involved in people feeling pain and how much they feel pain,” Tekmyster told Healthline.

“Because pain changes your psychology, your stress levels, and actually changes your behaviors, not only do you have to change how people perceive the pain but also how it affects them and how they perceive it affects them,” he said.

“It’s how we deal with pain that CBT helps to control, not really controlling pain in and of itself,” he added.

Darnall said the VR device is one more addition to the treatment options available to treat chronic pain. Other options include physical therapy, exercise, yoga, and acupuncture.

Medications may also be used, but Smuck said they’re often not useful for the long-term management of chronic pain.

“Studies have shown they can be useful most often in the short term, but very few studies show that medications are useful for managing chronic pain in the long term and that’s particularly true for medications that have more risk, like opioids,” he said.

“The amount of benefit that is derived from opioids is small. It’s really not any better than what you can get from CBT. Those benefits tend to be short lived because of the way the body responds to opioids. There’s a substantial amount of risk to taking opioids, including addiction, overdose, and death,” he added.

Darnall is hopeful the VR device will make lower risk treatment options such as CBT more easily accessible to the public.

“Some people of course definitely need pain medication and we never want there to be barriers to a particular treatment that a person may need,” she said. “However, it is well appreciated and has been stated for chronic low back pain but also chronic pain generally, we want to apply lowest risk treatments first.”

“In this case, we are giving people that option, access to home-based, on-demand pain care,” she said.