Applications for virtual reality experiences in tertiary education

Abstract

Providing authentic learning experiences is a stellar teaching and learning strategy to prepare students for their future careers. They cultivate and enhance students learning by providing hands- on, experiential learning opportunities. However, incorporating such activities can be challenging, logistically complicated and may encapsulate hazardous situations and safety concerns. When these challenges arise, Virtual and Augmented Reality can offer learning experiences to supplement the curriculum, and optimise the valuable time spent on location. This paper provides an overview of different pedagogical applications to incorporate virtual experiences, namely Virtual experiences to supplement and optimise real-world experiences; Simulations and virtual tours for inaccessible or remote locations; First-person point-of-view; and Virtual scenarios for dangerous situations, which is supported with examples of activities used in higher education.

Integrating Mobile Mixed Reality to Enhance Learning Before, During, and After Physical Field Trips

“…There is growing evidence to show that pre-field trip experiences using VFTs can help prepare students in advance, and optimise the time spent on location (Zakaria & Wilkie, 2020;Seifan, Dada & Berenjian, 2019). These experiences enable students to be more familiar with the layout and physical features of the trip, reducing the procedural effort of the visit (Harron, Petrosino & Jenevein, 2019).…”

Implementing H5P Online Interactive Activities at Scale

“…The Virtual Tour (Figure 5) content types allows people to develop 360° virtual tours for inaccessible locations, or for field trip preparation (Zakaria & Wilkie, 2020). Using 360° still images, interactive content can be overlaid via hotspots which are attached to items / positions in the image, and multiple images can be linked together to enable people to virtually walk through locations.…”

“…However, the incorporation of LMS-accessible OIA expands the possibilities for active learning opportunities such as quizzing at key milestones for learner self-assessment, and embedded text input boxes that prompt and scaffold written preparation or reflection tasks. At Victoria University, this capability has led to innovative approaches such as 360° virtual tours of locations to prepare learners for field trips and site visits (Zakaria & Wilkie, 2020), and branching scenario simulations that provide learners with opportunities to test different thought processes through decision making.…”