Presentation 1: Virtual Reality Implementation: A Qualitative Study of VR as a means of Providing Cultural Context in Minority Serving Institutes (Work-in-Progress Paper #80)
Authors: Rachel Tatro-Duarte and Charles MacQuarrie
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This research intends to make a focused and strictly limited test of the effectiveness of virtual reality in the literature classroom in terms of qualitative evidence gathered via short answers as well as final interviews in which students reflect upon the usefulness of VR in their learning experience. Final interviews will include both fact-based reading comprehension questions, and questions that ask the participants to reflect upon their experience. Written questions will also involve both reading comprehension and also ask students to describe levels of engagement and learning.
Presentation 2: Enhancing Brain Plasticity and Cognition Utilizing Immersive Technology and Virtual Reality Contexts for Gameplay (Work-in-Progress Paper #134)
Authors: Cassondra Eng, Dominic Calkosz, Yukai Yang, Nathan Carter Williams, Erik Thiessen and Anna Fisher
>>Access Video Presentation<<This work-in-progress paper examines the effects of immersive virtual experiences on cognition and neuroplasticity. Study 1 examined the separate and combined effects of physically-active and cognitively-demanding immersive gameplay on executive function and associated neural substrates. Results indicated that cognition and neuroplasticity—the building of new brain connections—increase when learning novel skills via active gameplay. Study 2 devised an experimental design to reproduce Study 1 in virtual reality to examine whether the findings of enhanced cognition and neuroplasticity generalize across virtual contexts and development. Incorporating neuroimaging measures into virtual experiences may identify the underlying mechanisms for behavioral changes in learning.
Presentation 3: Exploring the Benefits of Using 360° Video Immersion to Enhance Motivation and Engagement in System Modeling Education (Work-in-Progress Paper #154)
Authors: Juan Carlos Munoz Carpio, Michael Cowling and James Birt
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The benefits of immersion with regards to information visualizations have a profound impact in topics demanding cognitive representations. The re-creation of educational activities can be developed and enhanced with the use of 360° VR videos. The ability to visualize 3D environments can be beneficial for educational and training contexts as it can be accessed and navigated by the user compared to a 2D face to face representation. The drift from brick and mortar classrooms to online spaces brings challenges that can be addressed by video representations that can take complex learning metaphors. This paper describes the use of a 360°-video case study to enhance experiential learning in a systems analysis class. We hypothesize that the use of a visual case study combined with virtual instructions can lead to learning motivation and active engagement. This examination follows the conceptualization phase of a methodology to investigate the practical uses of the intervention deriving in learning engagement. A sample of 24 participants from an Australian University was considered. The findings of the study reveal a positive impact on the measures provoking learning engagement and motivation among the participants.
Presentation 4: How to use Immersive Virtual Reality in Educational InstructionAuthors: Shannon Putman
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