The Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality Environments on Students' Academic Achievement: A Meta-analytical and Meta-thematic Study

Abstract

The objective of this study is to ascertain the effects of immersive virtual reality environments on students' academic achievement utilizing quantitative and qualitative approaches. First, databases of Web of Science, Google Scholar, ERIC, Proquest, YÖK Thesis Center, and ULAKBİM of Turkey were searched, and 31 studies (23 journal papers and 8 theses) were selected for the meta-analysis. In this context, the overall effect size on students' academic achievement was analyzed with the CMA program using subject area and grade level moderator variables. In the second part, content analysis was performed using the ATLAS.ti program for 8 studies selected for the meta-thematic analysis. it was found that immersive virtual reality environments had a positive, moderate (d = 0.526) effect on students' academic achievement. After the meta-thematic analysis, it was observed that immersive virtual reality environments had many positive effects on students' cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills and that created a perception of reality and sense of presence in students, facilitates learning, increases motivation, creates a safe and interactive learning environment and make many contributions to learning. In addition, it was determined that there may be problems such as technical problems and health problems during the environments, and it was stated that measures should be taken.

Immersive Learning Environments in Education: Application, Effect and Challenges

“…Learning Environment in Education: An Overview [24] critically examined the immersive virtual reality-based environments as a predictor of student's academic achievement by applying metaanalysis and meta-thematic approach. The content analysis and meta-analysis of the research studies revealed that ILEs have wide educational effects like providing learning autonomy, increasing attention, providing permanent learning, self-regulated learning, active participation, increasing comprehension of lesson, providing in-depth learning etc.…”

“…Akgun & Atici [24] conducted a meta-analytical and meta-thematic study to gain understanding regarding the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality environments in terms of academic performance of learners by following a mixed design. The study revealed a moderate positive effect of ILEs on student's academic success, and along with these, the meta-thematic analysis revealed significant effects in cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills of the students and several academic benefits.…”

“…Immersive learning environments have wide educational implications in present and futuristic perspectives, but so far as its implementation part is concerned, some sorts of challenges have been noticed in research studies i.e., difficulty in understanding, technical problems, insufficient instruction, limited time, and health problems [24]. Apart from these, research studies reveal several challenges and limitations that hinders the implementation immersive learning environment in the field of education viz.…”