Onderstaand verhaal heb ik recentelijk op mijn LinkedIn-profiel gepost. De bevindingen vanuit mijn literatuurstudie voor LA5I vond ik te interessant om voor mezelf houden:
For my
Master Thesis I am researching the usability of Virtual Reality (VR) in
automotive technical training. Virtual Reality is at the moment a hot item in
every line of business. Actually, it is so hot, that you could easily burn your
fingers on it (yes, this is a metaphor). This is something that I certainly don’t
want to do, but it is very likely because I hear a lot of statements about VR
which are often not substantiated what so ever. So therefore I am forcing
myself to temper my enthusiasm and trust on my research skills, because I don´t
want to make any false assumptions which could jeopardize the reliability of my
research project.
At this moment,
I am far from completing my research project. However, I would like to share
some insights with you, which I gained during my literature study. To my
surprise, I have found tons of literature and scientific studies about VR and its
role in educational purposes. Some research and its corresponding publications go
back to the early ´90! Although the technique of VR has drastically developed
itself since then, the essence of learning is not. Our (learning) brain stills
operates in the same way as in the early ’90 (although insights about how
learning takes place has been drastically changed). So the scientific research
of those days is still relevant, even today. So why should you use VR as an
educational tool? The following insights, which I mentioned here below find their
origin in literature published between 1990 until now and are just some of the
learning solutions that VR can provide. Virtual Reality can be supportive for:
Learning situations where the development of
spatial visualization ability is required:
Scientific
research had proven that students who learn in a VR simulation outperform
students who learn with 2D materials when it comes to the development of spatial
insight/awareness. The use of virtual environments providing three dimensional
representations reduces the cognitive load, whereas students who learn with 2D
materials mentally need to construct representation of dynamics and depth (unavailable
when presented using two dimensional). In complex learning situations/subjects
and the use of a non VR environment, students are required to involve complex cognitive
activities by directing attention to multiple sources of information, and to synthesize
these before proceeding further. The need to integrate information from
multiple sources imposes extraneous cognitive load that may inhibit learning.
Experience and practice:
Virtual
Reality can provide an unlimited learning environment in which students can practice
their skills. When the VR simulation is constructed, there are no financial,
ethical or technical risks. Also, there is the possibility to experience and
understand abstract concepts, like changes in physical laws, observations at
atomic or planetary scale, visualize abstract concepts, visiting previously
impossible environments or interact with events that would otherwise not be
possible by distance, time, or security reasons. Virtual Reality can more accurate illustrate
some features, processes, and so forth than by other means. Virtual Reality allows extreme close-up examination
of an object. Also, VR creates the opportunity for insights
based on new perspectives.
Of course, not
everything that I mention can be realized with Virtual Reality only. But,
according to scientific research, VR does provide the best way to get there. Also,
the outcomes of scientific research are not always transferable to the practical
implementation of it. Just remember that Virtual Reality is an educational tool
and no one should assume that VR automatically provides a good learning environment.
And at last, at this moment, the cost of developing an Virtual Reality
educational environment can only be justified when Virtual Reality has a
learning advantage above alternative learning tools with lower costs. So always
ask yourself and your stakeholders, why should we choose for Virtual Reality? Maybe
this article can provide you with some guidance in making that decision. Good
luck!
