Virtual Reality in education, why (not)?

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!