Assessing Virtual Reality's Potential for Teaching Abstract Science

Abstract

Understanding how to leverage the features of immersive, three-dimensional (3-D) multisensory virtual reality to meet user needs presents a challenge for human factors researchers. This paper describes our approach to evaluating this medium's potential as a tool for teaching abstract science. It describes some of our early research outcomes and discusses an evaluation comparing a 3-D VR microworld to an alternative 2-D computer-based microworld. Both are simulations in which students learn about electrostatics. The outcomes of the comparison study suggest: 1) the immersive 3-D VR microworld facilitated conceptual and three-dimensional learning that the 2-D computer microworld did not, and 2) VR's multisensory information aided students who found the electrostatics concepts challenging. As a whole, our research suggests that VR's immersive representational abilities have promise for teaching and for visualization. It also demonstrates that characteristics of the learning experience such as usability, motivation, and simulator sickness are important part of assessing this medium's potential.

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