Virtual Reality Classroom Research Articles

Enhancing preservice teachers’ noticing via adaptive feedback in a virtual reality classroom

BackgroundDespite the relevance of adaptive performance feedback in teacher education, it remains unclear if it improves preservice teachers’ noticing abilities. AimsThis study aimed to investigate the influence of feedback on teachers' noticing abilities, specifically in the context of visually attending to disruptions within a virtual reality (VR) classroom. We examined the effect of feedback conditions (adaptive/static/no feedback) on three aspects of teachers’ visual attention performance (VAP): selective visual attention, visual scan scope, and visual sensitivity to significant events. SampleThe sample consisted of 98 preservice teachers who were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. MethodsWe used linear mixed-effects modeling to examine feedback effects in a VR classroom with eye tracking. VAP was measured by both subjective (self-report) and objective (the number of fixations on students versus on objects; the degree of dispersions of fixation locations; the number of seen disruptions and the average time to first fixate on a disruption) measures. Adaptive feedback was based on real-time process data from eye tracking and provided participants with individualized evaluations of their actions, while static feedback only offered generic recommendations. ResultsWe found that participants in both feedback conditions perceived their (subjective) VAP to be improving compared to the control group. But the actual objective VAP only improved for teachers receiving adaptive feedback. ConclusionsThis study provides empirical support for using adaptive feedback systems based on real-time process data in enhancing preservice teachers’ professional competence in noticing significant classroom events.

The Neurophysiological Costs of Learning in a Noisy Classroom: An Ecological Virtual Reality Study.

Many real-life situations can be extremely noisy, which makes it difficult to understand what people say. Here, we introduce a novel audiovisual virtual reality experimental platform to study the behavioral and neurophysiological consequences of background noise on processing continuous speech in highly realistic environments. We focus on a context where the ability to understand speech is particularly important: the classroom. Participants (n = 32) experienced sitting in a virtual reality classroom and were told to pay attention to a virtual teacher giving a lecture. Trials were either quiet or contained background construction noise, emitted from outside the classroom window. Two realistic types of noise were used: continuous drilling and intermittent air hammers. Alongside behavioral outcomes, we measured several neurophysiological metrics, including neural activity (EEG), eye-gaze and skin conductance (galvanic skin response). Our results confirm the detrimental effect of background noise. Construction noise, and particularly intermittent noise, was associated with reduced behavioral performance, reduced neural tracking of the teacher's speech and an increase in skin conductance, although it did not have a significant effect on alpha-band oscillations or eye-gaze patterns. These results demonstrate the neurophysiological costs of learning in noisy environments and emphasize the role of temporal dynamics in speech-in-noise perception. The finding that intermittent noise was more disruptive than continuous noise supports a "habituation" rather than "glimpsing" hypothesis of speech-in-noise processing. These results also underscore the importance of increasing the ecologically relevance of neuroscientific research and considering acoustic, temporal, and semantic features of realistic stimuli as well as the cognitive demands of real-life environments.

Exploring pre-service teachers’ intentions of adopting and using virtual reality classrooms in science education

This study investigated how pre-service teachers perceive and plan to use a virtual reality classroom for science teaching during microteaching practices. The UTAUT 2 model was adopted as the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected through an online survey from eighty-three pre-service science teachers from a large metropolitan university in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and regression analysis. The results revealed that pre-service teachers demonstrated a high level of acceptance and intention to use Virtual reality classrooms in their microteaching practice and future classroom teaching. Thus, implying that they were receptive to the idea of using virtual reality classrooms in their microteaching practice and future classroom practice. Results further indicate that the preservice teachers are fascinated by the utilization of virtual reality classrooms for their microteaching practice based on two significant factors: social influence and technology self-assurance. However, results show that age and gender do not moderate the influence of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating condition, hedonic motivation, self-efficacy, anxiety and attitude on preservice teachers’ behavioural intention to accept and the virtual reality classroom for their microteaching practice and future classroom teaching. The implications of these findings for science teaching and learning are discussed as it delves into the motivations and considerations of pre-service teachers when incorporating virtual reality classrooms into their teaching practices for science education.

Normative performance data on visual attention in neurotypical children: virtual reality assessment of cognitive and psychomotor development

Introduction: Virtual Reality (VR) is revolutionizing healthcare research and practice by offering innovative methodologies across various clinical conditions. Advances in VR technology enable the creation of controllable, multisensory 3D environments, making it an appealing tool for capturing and quantifying behavior in realistic scenarios. This paper details the application of VR as a tool for neurocognitive evaluation, specifically in attention process assessment, an area of relevance for informing the diagnosis of childhood health conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).Methods: The data presented focuses on attention performance results from a large sample (n = 837) of neurotypical male and female children (ages 6–13) tested on a visual continuous performance task, administered within an immersive VR classroom environment. This data was collected to create a normative baseline database for use to inform comparisons with the performances of children with ADHD to support diagnostic decision-making in this area.Results: Results indicate systematic improvements on most metrics across the age span, and sex differences are noted on key variables thought to reflect differential measures of hyperactivity and inattention in children with ADHD. Results support VR technology as a safe and viable option for testing attention processes in children, under stimulus conditions that closely mimic ecologically relevant challenges found in everyday life.Discussion: In response to these stimulus conditions, VR can support advanced methods for capturing and quantifying users’ behavioral responses. VR offers a more systematic and objective approach for clinical assessment and intervention and provides conceptual support for its use in a wide variety of healthcare contexts.

The virtual reality classroom: a randomized control trial of medical student knowledge of postpartum hemorrhage emergency management.

To investigate the use of a virtual reality learning environment (VRLE) to enhance medical student knowledge of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) emergency management and insertion of a postpartum balloon. A randomized control trial involving medical students from University College Dublin, Ireland. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (VRLE tutorial) or control group (PowerPoint tutorial on the same topic). All participants completed pre-learning experience and post-learning experience surveys. Both groups were timed and assessed on postpartum balloon insertion technique on a model pelvis. The primary outcome was assessment of student knowledge. Secondary outcomes included confidence levels, time taken to complete the task, technique assessment, satisfaction with the learning environment, and side effects of VR. Both learning experiences significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced student performance on the post-learning experience multiple choice questionnaire, with no difference between the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, time for task completion was significantly less compared to the control group (1-2 min vs. 2-3 min, p = 0.039). Both learning experiences significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced student confidence, with no significant difference between intervention and control groups. 100% of the students using the VRLE enjoyed the experience, and 82.4% were very likely to recommend use of VRLE in medical education. 94.1% of the students felt the VRLE was beneficial over didactic teaching. Receiving formal instruction, regardless of format, enhances students' knowledge and confidence of the topic covered. Students who received instruction via the VRLE assembled the postpartum balloon faster than students who received didactic teaching. VR may be beneficial in teaching hands-on procedural skills in obstetrics and gynecology education.

Gaze-based attention network analysis in a virtual reality classroom

This article provides a step-by-step guideline for measuring and analyzing visual attention in 3D virtual reality (VR) environments based on eye-tracking data. We propose a solution to the challenges of obtaining relevant eye-tracking information in a dynamic 3D virtual environment and calculating interpretable indicators of learning and social behavior. With a method called "gaze-ray casting," we simulated 3D-gaze movements to obtain information about the gazed objects. This information was used to create graphical models of visual attention, establishing attention networks. These networks represented participants' gaze transitions between different entities in the VR environment over time. Measures of centrality, distribution, and interconnectedness of the networks were calculated to describe the network structure. The measures, derived from graph theory, allowed for statistical inference testing and the interpretation of participants' visual attention in 3D VR environments. Our method provides useful insights when analyzing students’ learning in a VR classroom, as reported in a corresponding evaluation article with N = 274 participants.•Guidelines on implementing gaze-ray casting in VR using the Unreal Engine and the HTC VIVE Pro Eye.•Creating gaze-based attention networks and analyzing their network structure.•Implementation tutorials and the Open Source software code are provided via OSF: https://osf.io/pxjrc/?view_only=1b6da45eb93e4f9eb7a138697b941198.

Deep Learning-Based Scene Processing and Optimization for Virtual Reality Classroom Environments: A Study

Deep Learning-Based Scene Processing and Optimization for Virtual Reality Classroom Environments: A Study

More I-talk in student teachers’ written reflections indicates higher stress during VR teaching

Video-based reflection on one's own teaching represents a crucial tool in teacher education. When student teachers reflect on negative classroom events, it elicits “self-focused attention,” which has been associated with more intense negative emotionality. Self-focused attention can be quantitatively captured using first-person singular pronouns (“I,” “me,” “my”) in written reflections by, for instance, student teachers. What is unclear is whether student teachers' use of these first-person singular pronouns in their written reflections is linked to and predicts their negative affective experiences during teaching. For the present study, a fully immersive virtual reality (VR) classroom was implemented in which student teachers taught a lesson, provided written reflections on their teaching, and then taught a second lesson. We measured N = 59 student teachers' self-reported stress and heartrate responses while teaching in the VR classroom and determined the percentage of first-person singular pronouns in their written reflections. Firstly, our results showed that the use of first-person singular pronouns provides incremental information on manual ratings of student teachers' foci in their written reflections. Secondly, student teachers' heartrates during instruction—a measure of physiological stress—were associated with the use of first-person singular pronouns in subsequent written reflections. Thirdly, the use of first-person singular pronouns predicted the increase in physiological stress from the first to the second round of VR teaching. We discuss implications for automated feedback and for designing reflective tasks.

The Benefits of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Preadolescent Children's Learning in a Virtual Classroom.

Today's children are increasingly inactive, with >50% not meeting the recommended 60minutes of daily physical activity (PA). Recent reports suggest scores in reading and mathematics have also declined. Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that can be used to simulate real-world scenarios, like classroom learning. This study investigated whether a single dose of walking benefits learning in a VR classroom (measured via quiz performance). Forty-seven children (15 females, 9.64 [0.12]y) completed 2, randomized and counterbalanced 20-minute interventions on separate days: acute PA (walking) and seated rest (control), followed by a stationary educational lesson in a distracting VR classroom. Children then completed a quiz on the lesson. Children had higher quiz performance following PA (z-score = 0.16 [0.13]) compared with following rest (z-score = -0.18 (0.14); F1,45 = 6.17, P = .017), indicating that PA enhanced learning. Children with average intelligence quotient had quiz performance that was higher after PA (z-score = 0.04 [0.20]) compared with after rest (z-score = -0.60 [0.19]), t(22) = 3.34, P = .003. Higher intelligence quotient children did not demonstrate differences in quiz performance after PA compared with after rest. Learning in a VR classroom may be improved following acute PA, particularly for children with average intelligence quotient. These findings support public health guidelines promoting PA across the day.

How a University Initiative Created/Implemented a Virtual Reality Classroom Design Activity

While augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies have shown potential in educational contexts, existing literature has focused primarily on the applications, features, and potential limitations. Much of the early work has also focused on single applications, pilot studies, and the effectiveness of its use rather than its creation. Less work has examined structured, institutional, and programmatic efforts for designing and implementing VR educational technologies, looking at how organizations can create teams and processes that are likely to generate effective VR designs/tools. This programmatic design case proposes a theoretically informed approach to creating University-level teams that design authentic VR educational experiences. The findings/processes from this case are based on a real-world task force that was started to create and implement AR/VR across many different disciplines. In this paper, we describe how the task force utilized a backward design process and the SAMR framework to strategize how AR/VR technology could be leveraged in a teacher education course. We outline one specific example that came out of the process and explain how different steps carried the project through from concept to implementation. At various points, the SAMR framework helped guide design decisions and articulated practical goals that contributed to the success of the implementation. This article extracts lessons learned by the task force as they addressed problems, highlights specific technological designs/implementations that came out of that process and explains how a structured process that places instructional design at the forefront is an important part of facilitating authentic learning in VR.

Revisiting effects of teacher characteristics on physiological and psychological stress: a virtual reality study

Identifying personal characteristics associated with teachers’ stress is a longstanding research goal with important implications for practice. The present work revisits the effects of individual characteristics in terms of neuroticism, classroom management self-efficacy, and cognitive (reasoning) abilities on stress using virtual reality (VR). Relying on a sample of 56 German pre-service teachers (Mage = 22.73, SDage = 4.93; 50.9% females), we capitalized on a VR classroom environment that allowed the integration of experimental control and authentic teaching situations, where pre-service teachers responded to the disruptive behaviors of the student avatars. We focused on stress responses in terms of psychological stress (self-reported stress) assessed after the VR session, and physiological stress (heart rate) assessed during the VR session. A total of 30 (26) participants was assigned to a condition with higher (lower) levels of disruptive student behavior, referred to as higher and lower complexity condition, respectively. Results from linear mixed-effects models revealed that neuroticism positively predicted psychological and physiological stress responses in pre-service teachers, whereas classroom management self-efficacy and cognitive (reasoning) abilities were not significantly related to stress responses. Level of complexity and the interaction between complexity and individual characteristics did not have an effect. This study underlines the value of VR as a tool for psychological research and contributes to existing knowledge on teacher characteristics and stress.

The Design of Virtual Reality Learning Module in Neurolinguistics: Focus on Aphasia

The metaverse, which is essentially a virtual environment parallel to the actual world, is the most recent stage in the evolution of visual immersion technology and is quickly emerging as a testing ground for new social innovations. Since two-dimensional network technology struggles to meet students' demands for immersive learning environments and organic human-computer interactions, meta-universes will change how online education is taught to support students' individualized learning and overall development. In order to push the boundaries of virtual reality technology utilized in various disciplines, this paper will create a virtual reality classroom for neurolinguistics students to learn about aphasia. Different scenarios are built to help students experience communicating with aphasic patients, familiarize themselves with different types of aphasic symptoms and causes, and discuss the rehabilitation program for aphasic patients with peers. Students can complete the whole process of knowledge cognition-experience-construction in a richer and more vivid learning form.

Enhancing English Oral Skills among Malaysian Rural School Students through the Implementation of Virtual Reality (VR)

This research aims to determine the perception of rural secondary school students on the implementation of virtual reality (VR) as an alternative to the traditional classroom setting, more specifically in the setting of an oral skill lesson. In addition, the perception of the students includes the general perception, motivation levels, interest as well as the skill development of the students when subjected to a VR classroom and their effects on the mentioned aspects. A total of 39 respondents from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Desa Kencana were involved in this research. This study employed a multi-method research design. Based on the results, it is found that the perception of the respondents was generally quite positive and a majority preferred a VR environment compared to a traditional setting in the context of learning speaking skills. Respondents have stated that the interactivity and new experience presented with the VR environment brings new light to their motivation and interest and they showed a keen interest in learning English compared to traditional settings. However, there are several subjects who view the implementation in a negative light, as would be portrayed in the data findings. In conclusion, both research objectives were answered, and several implications were discovered. Several suggestions are recommended in order to further this topic at the end of the research. In conclusion, this research believes that the implementation of VR would be able to increase the motivation, interest and skill development of ESL learners, specifically in speaking skills and therefore investigate whether VR classrooms appear as a better alternative to our current learning environment.

The Impact of Virtual Reality on Online Education

Virtual reality technology was proposed and developed by Mr. Jaron Lanier, founder of VPL in the United States, in 1984, which is the first popular virtual reality device in the world. However, due to equipment, functions, etc., the technology has been in a slow development stage. Especially when the epidemic breaks out, many students were forced to study online at home, at which time, software such as classic Zoom burst out one after another, but students are isolated from each other and only face a computer when they have classes at home. Therefore, students cannot timely communicate with teachers about their doubts in the class, at the same time, teachers cannot get feedback from students in time. For this reason, this paper makes a specific analysis of the impact of virtual reality technology, on online education through using eye tracking technology to judge whether the virtual reality classroom is conducive to students' learning by comparing students' concentration and immersion. This study finds that there are still some shortcomings in virtual reality education, and it is not feasible to completely replace offline education. However, as an auxiliary tool for reality education, it is currently the main development direction. The significance of this study lies in discovering the advantages and disadvantages of current virtual reality education and providing direction for the development of virtual reality education in the future.

The Effects of a Constructively Aligned Virtual Reality Setting on Professionals' Knowledge, Motivation and Perceptions

Although previous research on Virtual Reality (VR) demonstrated the effects of particular learning environment characteristics on learning, none of these studies constructed their virtual learning environment from a constructive alignment perspective. Therefore, this experimental study aims to investigate the impact of a constructively aligned virtual classroom setting, adopting an Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, on professionals’ knowledge on AI. This experimental condition was compared with a control condition, consisting of a similar constructively aligned AI-training within a traditional face-to-face setting. Learning outcomes were measured using a pre-test post-test validated multiple-choice test. Additionally, motivation and perceptions, which are considered as crucial intermediate variables, were assessed using questionnaires. Results revealed significant improvements in learning from pre-test to post-test with no statistical difference between the conditions. Following the principle of constructive alignment, professionals perceived the VR classroom environment as motivating as the traditional setting. As a result, professionals perceived the VR classroom setting to the same extent as the traditional learning environment. These findings reveal that improvements in learning outcomes of professionals can be realized if environments are designed based on the principle of constructive alignment irrespective of the VR or traditional settings.

An experimental test of the Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect using an immersive virtual reality classroom

Academic self-concept plays a central role in successful learning and is substantially shaped by social comparisons. Research on the so-called Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect (BFLPE) has yielded a highly robust and generalizable pattern of negative effects of higher class/school average achievement on students’ self-concept when controlling for individual achievement. However, most BFLPE studies have not provided information about the causes behind or the mechanisms underlying the proposed effects. To address this, we used a fully immersive virtual reality (IVR) classroom to experimentally test the extent to which students recognized performance-related classroom behavior as implicit social comparison information and how these perceptions explained differences in students’ self-concepts. Participants (N = 381 sixth-grade students) experienced an authentic yet standardized IVR teaching situation with virtual classmates who exhibited different performance levels (operationalized as 20% vs. 35% vs. 65% vs. 80% of classmates raising their hands). Hand-raising behavior had a significant positive effect on students’ perceptions of the class’ performance level (d20% vs. 65% = 0.60; d20% vs. 80% = 1.24). In line with the BFLPE, results showed a negative effect of higher performing classmates on students’ situational self-concept (d20% vs. 80% = 0.30). Students’ perceptions of the class’ performance level fully explained the effect of classmates’ hand-raising behavior on students’ situational self-concept. The study’s experimental approach provided new insights into the emergence of social comparison effects in the classroom, highlighting the major role of students’ perceptions of their classmates’ performance-related behavior, and moreover demonstrated the general potential of using IVR in classroom research.

Investigating social comparison behaviour in an immersive virtual reality classroom based on eye-movement data

Higher-achieving peers have repeatedly been found to negatively impact students’ evaluations of their own academic abilities (i.e., Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect). Building on social comparison theory, this pattern is assumed to result from students comparing themselves to their classmates; however, based on existing research designs, it remains unclear how exactly students make use of social comparison information in the classroom. To determine the extent to which students (N = 353 sixth graders) actively attend and respond to social comparison information in the form of peers’ achievement-related behaviour, we used eye-tracking data from an immersive virtual reality (IVR) classroom. IVR classrooms offer unprecedented opportunities for psychological classroom research as they allow to integrate authentic classroom scenarios with maximum experimental control. In the present study, we experimentally varied virtual classmates’ achievement-related behaviour (i.e., their hand-raising in response to the teacher’s questions) during instruction, and students’ eye and gaze data showed that they actively processed this social comparison information. Students who attended more to social comparison information (as indicated by more frequent and longer gaze durations at peer learners) had less favourable self-evaluations. We discuss implications for the future use of IVR environments to study behaviours in the classroom and beyond.

Body in motion, attention in focus: A virtual reality study on teachers' movement patterns and noticing

When people navigate a space to perform tasks, their body and eye movements are closely linked. Within the classroom context, characteristics of teachers' body movements may be related to the noticing of relevant classroom events, in particular, visual attention to student disruptions. In the current study, we investigated this relationship in an immersive virtual reality (IVR) classroom that offered a standardized environment for tracking teachers' body and eye movements. Based on time series data collected during a short teaching task with 21 preservice teachers, we conducted K-means clustering with body movement features. We identified three distinctive patterns, which we labeled as immobile, anchored, and dynamic (body) movement patterns. Teachers with dynamic movement patterns venture away from the teacher's desk to far corners of the room; they don't dwell in one location for long but rather move continuously to various parts of the classroom, creating a dispersed movement. Dynamic movement patterns were associated with the best visual attention performance, defined as the number, speed, and duration of fixations on a classroom disruption. Our findings demonstrate the existence of unique and differentiable movement patterns among preservice teachers that have implications for teacher noticing, teacher–student interaction, and instructional quality.

Adding a Web-Based Virtual Reality Classroom Experience to a Hybrid, Blended Course Modality

The blended classroom is a unique space for face-to-face (F2F) interaction and online learning. The blended classroom has three distinct interaction types: in-person synchronous, virtual synchronous, and virtual asynchronous; each of these modalities lends itself to different forms of extended reality. This case study looks at using a virtual reality (VR) classroom for an online synchronous weekly meetings for three upper-division or advanced (junior and senior level) higher education design classes at a university. The use of social web VR for a classroom can offer a collaborative, real-time environment that bridges the gap between virtual video conferences and gaming platforms. This paper examines how to use social web VR in a virtual classroom. Mixed methods were used to collect usability data at the end of the semester survey. The system usability scale (SUS) and several qualitative questions gathered student feedback. Overall, the students enjoyed using the VR classroom, but audio issues seemed to be the most significant pain point. While the overall response was positive, this study will address several areas for improvement from both the student and instructor perspectives. Social, web-based VR offers promising potential. Designing a human-centered virtual environment and considering all participants’ total user experience is critical to a successful learning tool.

Developing 3D models using photogrammetry for virtual reality training in anatomy.

Virtual reality (VR) is an increasingly available resource with numerous applications to medical education, and as a teaching tool has been widely validated in the literature. Photogrammetry, the process of overlapping two-dimensional (2D) photographic images of three-dimensional (3D) objects to create a 3D image or "model," can be used in conjunction with VR to create pedagogically sound learning modules for anatomy education. However, to date, there has not been a detailed description of the process of developing and implementing an in-house VR tool to supplement anatomy instruction. In this article, we examine the methods, benefits, and challenges of using photogrammetry to implement a VR classroom that capitalizes on the strengths of a traditional body donor-based course and the unique strengths of VR. Using off-the-shelf equipment, developing VR content and a VR curriculum is both feasible and approachable for medical educators.