VR/AR Benefits and Studies

Using a mobile Virtual Reality and computer game to improve visuospatial self-efficacy in middle school students (2023): A recent study by Kuznetcova and colleagues (2023) examined the effects of a VR intervention on middle school students’ visuospatial (VS) skills. The study participants included 169 students across 11 classrooms in 3 middle schools in the US. The results showed that VR intervention significantly increased the participants’ VS self-efficacy.

Effects of virtual reality on learning outcomes in K-6 education: A meta-analysis (2022). This meta-analysis shows that VR, on average, promotes greater student learning in comparison to control conditions, with no dependency on the education level or knowledge domains in which VR is used. Moreover, this effect is greater with immersive VR over semi-immersive and non-immersive systems. 

Effects of virtual reality on creativity performance and perceived immersion: A study of brain waves (2022) Published by the British Educational Research Administration, this study sought to explore the effects of VR on creativity and immersion among middle school students. The study found that VR had a significant effect on immersion, attention, and the creative process. Additionally, VR also increased attention-related and meditation-related brain wave activity and desynchronized alpha waves.

Benefits of Taking a Virtual Field Trip in Immersive Virtual Reality: Evidence for the Immersion Principle in Multimedia Learning (2022). This study suggests that using VR can improve knowledge acquisition. When comparing a 2D video experience to a head mounted display (HMD), students in the HMD group scored significantly higher than the video group on presence, enjoyment, interest, and retention in an immediate and delayed post-test.

CBS News discusses the Metaverse (2022) From dial-up to virtual reality, the future of immersive technology is upon us!

ScienceVR: A Virtual Reality Framework for STEM Education, Simulation and Assessment (2021): Read this paper to learn about  ScienceVR – a framework for designing and developing a VR learning environment. The paper discusses a study involving 36 participants that were placed in three groups: IVR, Desktop VR, and 2D. Results showed a higher task completion rate, higher memorability scores, and faster and more accurate performance for the IVR group compared to the other groups.

Travel kinematics in virtual reality increases learning efficiency (2021): This paper discusses the benefits of VR technologies for STEM learning efficiency and presents a study on VR interface capability, virtual environmental traversal, and its effect on students’ learning. Results indicated that VR interfaces, irrespective of environmental traversal, are suitable environments for STEM learning but environmental traversal can increase learning efficiency.

Impact of Virtual Reality on Student Motivation in a High School Science Course (2021). In this study involving high school science students in Mexico, each student was provided VR equipment and apps to have an immersive, interactive, and contextualized experience of science content. The results of the student surveys after the VR experience indicated a substantial increase in attention, relevance, trust, and satisfaction. 

VR Headsets – See Significant Growth (2021) VR headsets are selling off the shelves as virtual reality awareness is growing. More and more companies and educational institutions are gearing up with VR tools.

Social VR App ‘Rec Room’ Raises $145 Funding, Now Valued at $3.5B (2021) Looking for a different way to fundraise? Check this article out to see how a Seattle-based start-up secured millions of dollars!

A scoping review of immersive virtual reality in STEM education (2020): This study presents a scoping review on the use of VR simulation training and VR-supported instructional design practices in STEM education, including K-12 and Higher Education settings. The study included 41 papers published between 2009 and 2019. Findings inform future research focusing on in-depth understanding of the benefits of VR for STEM education.

Using virtual reality in the classroom: Reflections of STEM teachers on the use of teaching and learning tools (2020): In this study, seven teachers participated in VR training and implemented VR in their classrooms. Afterwards, the participants were interviewed to reveal their opinions of VR. Findings indicated that VR practices increased students’ motivation, technology literacy, individualized learning, and understanding of difficult concepts, among others. 

The past, present, and future of virtual reality in pharmacy education (2019): This study examined the current use of VR and evaluated its future utility in pharmacy education. The authors concluded that VR can provide an immersive and interactive learning environment and help to overcome multiple obstacles faced by traditional approaches to pharmacy education.

“I’m a computer scientist!”: Virtual reality experience influences stereotype threat and STEM motivation among undergraduate women (2019): This paper explored VR as a space for a self-intervention to decrease stereotype threat and increase STEM motivation. Participants included 79 undergraduate women who were randomly assigned to two VR conditions: a future self highly successful in STEM and a future self  highly successful in humanities. The results showed a significant difference between women in STEM condition and women in humanities condition.

A Virtual Tour of the Cell: Impact of Virtual Reality on Student Learning and Engagement in the STEM Classroom (2019). This Otterbein University (Ohio) study was designed to assess the educational impact of VR on student learning and engagement in a sophomore-level cell biology course, Students used VR to explore the cell and its environment within the human body and engaged in a team-based activity. At the end, the students completed a survey about their experiences. The survey results showed a majority of students felt it had a positive impact on their education (on their ‘education’ or on their ‘learning’? The survey said ‘education’ in the question) and indicate the potential supportive role that VR may have in a variety of undergraduate courses.

VStream – The Benefits of VR Training (2019) A study done by University of Maryland found that participants scored higher in recall ability using VR over the desktop display.

The effect of virtual reality on EFL writing performance (2018). From the Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, this research study from Turkey explored the impact of VR on academic writing performance. The results showed students using VR as their instructional method had longer-term positive impacts on their writing than traditional instructional methods.

Learning in virtual reality: Effects on performance, emotion and engagement (2018). In this study from the United Kingdom, the researchers gave students instruction with traditional textbooks, VR, or videos.  Students using VR showed better performance in remembering things than those using traditional textbooks and video.

People Recall Information Better Through Virtual Reality, Says New UMD Study (2018) Virtual memory palaces improve recall accuracy when compared to using traditional desktops.

3 Ways Virtual Reality in Construction is Shaping the Industry (2018) Click the article above to see how the new age of VR technology is solving old problems. VR is being used to elevate experiences for both employees and clients.

Starlight Children’s Foundation, Disney and Google Unveil Starlight Xperience VR Program (2018). Read to find out how VR is helping transform hospital experiences for millions of seriously ill children and their families.

A study on the Effect of Virtual Reality 3D Exploratory Education on Students’ Creativity and Leadership (2017). In this study conducted in Taiwan, students were engaged in 3D exploratory education activities using VR technology. The study showed that the ability to explore concepts and manipulate content in a VR environment resulted in a significant impact on student creativity and leadership skills.

The Benefits of Virtual Reality in Education (2015). This Swedish comparison study looked at the impact of VR versus mobile phone applications in the same content area. The results indicated that VR is more effective than mobile phone applications in subjects where an interactive environment is needed, such as science-related content. Additionally, the study found that VR offers a more immersive experience that leads to increased involvement, and better promotes active learning

Instructor presence in instructional video: Effects on visual attention, recall, and perceived learning (2017): In this study from the University of Florida, participants each reviewed two 10-minute-long mathematics videos with instructor present or absence. The findings suggested that the videos with instructor presence attracted considerable visual attention, an increase in recall of information from the video, and a positive influence on participants’ perceived learning and satisfaction.

Exploring Relationships Between Eye Tracking and Traditional Usability Testing Data (2018): From the University of Florida, this study explored the relationship between eye tracking and traditional usability testing data. The study identified important relationships between eye movement metrics and traditional usability metrics such as task difficulty rating and completion time.

AI and the Future of Teaching and Learning (2023) : This study from the US Department of Education highlights the need for sharing knowledge, providing supports, and developing policies for artificial intelligence. The study found that AI enables new forms of interactions, helps educators address variability in student learning, supports powerful forms of adaptivity, enhances feedback loops, and supports educators.

AI and Education: Guidance for Policy-Makers (2021): From UNESCO, the United Nations’ specialized agency for education, comes detailed guidance for policymakers on the use and application of AI in education. The publication provides insight into how AI can address some of the biggest challenges in education, innovate teaching and learning practices, and accelerate the progress towards sustainable development goals.

Future of Testing in Education: Artificial Intelligence (2021): In a report from the Center for American Progress, findings indicated that technology and artificial intelligence can vastly improve the types of assessments teachers use to guide students in their learning. A key result showed that AI can help students learn better and faster when paired with high-quality learning materials and instruction.

AI in Education (2023):  This whitepaper from the Getting Smart organization, provides an in-depth look into the learning applications, operations, logistics, privacy, policy, challenges, and opportunities of the use of AI in education to provide a high-level view of the various facets of implementing AI in the education space. This whitepaper concludes that AI-based tools will allow students to learn faster and receive more personalized instruction tailored to their individual needs. 

Effect of motivational scaffolding on e-learning environments: self-efficacy, learning achievement, and cognitive style (2018): Published in the Journal of Educators Online, this research studied the effects of motivational scaffolding that favor self-efficacy and improve learning achievement in students with different cognitive styles when they interact in an e-learning environment in mathematics. The results showed significant differences in learning achievement and academic self-efficacy attributable to the effect of scaffolding.