Using Immersive Virtual Reality in an Online Biology Course

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Higher Education Pedagogy
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly recognized for its potential in higher education.
• VR offers unique interactive and immersive learning experiences, including virtual field trips.
• Preliminary studies suggest VR can positively impact student learning across various disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of immersive virtual reality on student learning experiences in an online course.
• To assess student perceptions of VR as a learning tool.
• To identify the benefits and challenges of implementing VR in online higher education.

Main Methods:

• An "immersive" virtual reality system with a head-mounted display was utilized in an online course.
• Students interacted with peers and engaged in course-related activities using VR.
• Data was collected on student perceptions of the learning experience and its impact on performance.

Main Results:

• Students perceived virtual reality as a valuable and helpful component of their online learning experience.
• No significant difference was observed in cardiovascular unit assessment performance between the VR and non-VR semesters.
• The study identified both advantages and disadvantages of using VR in an online educational setting.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality can enhance student engagement and interaction in online courses.
• Further research is needed to fully understand VR's impact on academic performance in higher education.
• VR implementation in online learning presents opportunities and challenges that require careful consideration.