Research Article
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Unlocking the potential of virtual reality in education: Insights from teachers and recommendations for integration

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 243 - 253, 31.05.2024
https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.1419279

Abstract

The integration of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies into education holds immense promise. Virtual Reality has the potential of providing an immersive and interactive learning experience, thus allowing students to engage with educational content in a more meaningful way. As it can be customized and developed for different purposes, VR can be integrated into almost all the school subjects. However, it is marked by its unique set of obstacles or challenges such as high prices of the devices, lack of software, limited usability, lack of competence of teachers etc. This study is mainly centered on the research interest of understanding how teachers apply VR technologies in their educational practices. The study delves into the experiences of teachers who participated in a survey. The survey was administered between September 2023 and November 2023, to 103 teachers from diverse educational backgrounds. The results were analyzed by using SPSS and MAXQDA software. Through their responses, the key findings that shed light on the integration, benefits, and challenges of VR technologies in education are provided in the current study.

References

  • Alalwan, N., Cheng, L., Al-Samarraie, H., Yousef, R., Ibrahim Alzahrani, A., & Sarsam, S. M. (2020). Challenges and Prospects of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Utilization among Primary School Teachers: A Developing Country Perspective. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 66, 100876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2020.100876
  • Araiza-Alba, P., Keane, T., & Kaufman, J. (2022). Are we ready for virtual reality in K–12 classrooms? Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 31(4), 471–491. https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2022.2033307
  • Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (Fifth edition). SAGE Publications, Inc.
  • Gkoumas, C., & Izzouzi, L. (2023). Is Immersive Virtual Reality in K-12 Education Ready for Primetime? Challenges, Possibilities, and Considerations. 2023 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW), 541–544. https://doi.org/10.1109/VRW58643.2023.00119
  • Graeske, C., & Sjöberg, S. A. (2021). VR-Technology in Teaching: Opportunities and Challenges. International Education Studies, 14(8), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v14n8p76
  • Hsiao, P.-W., & Su, C.-H. (2021). A Study on the Impact of STEAM Education for Sustainable Development Courses and Its Effects on Student Motivation and Learning. Sustainability, 13(7), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073772
  • Ibáñez, M.-B., & Delgado-Kloos, C. (2018). Augmented reality for STEM learning: A systematic review. Computers & Education, 123, 109–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.05.002
  • Kaplan, G., Cagiltay, K., Kara Aydemir, A. G., Çelik, B., & Tunga, Y. (2022). The Digital Teachers Project: A Step towards Empowering Teachers for More Equitable Education. AERA, 2022, California, USA.
  • Kinshuk, Chen, N.-S., Cheng, I.-L., & Chew, S. W. (2016). Evolution Is not enough: Revolutionizing Current Learning Environments to Smart Learning Environments. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 26(2), 561–581. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-016-0108-x
  • Lowood, H. E. (2023, November 16). Virtual Reality. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/virtual-reality
  • Maas, M., & Hughes, J. (2020). Virtual, augmented and mixed reality in K–12 education: A review of the literature. Technology Pedagogy and Education. 29(2), 231–249 https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2020.1737210
  • Mantovani, F. (2001). VR Learning: Potential and Challenges for the Use of 3D Environments in Education and Training. In G. Riva & C. Galimberti (Eds.), Towards CyberPsychology:Mind, Cognitions and Society in the Internet Age (pp. 207–226). IOS Press.
  • Mantovani, F., Castelnuovo, G., Gaggioli, A., & Riva, G. (2003). Virtual Reality Training for Health-Care Professionals. Cyberpsychology & Behavior : The Impact of the Internet, Multimedia and Virtual Reality on Behavior and Society, 6, 389–395. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493103322278772
  • Orhak, S. (2023). A Kirkpatrick Model Perspective on the Transformative Power of the Digital Teachers Project [M.S. Thesis]. Middle East Technical University. Retrieved from: https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/105504
  • Park, S.-M., & Kim, Y.-G. (2022). A Metaverse: Taxonomy, Components, Applications, and Open Challenges. In IEEE Access, vol. 10 pp, 4209–4251. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3140175
  • Pellas, N., Mystakidis, S., & Kazanidis, I. (2021). Immersive Virtual Reality in K-12 and Higher Education: A systematic review of the last decade scientific literature. Virtual Reality, 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-020-00489-9
  • Potkonjak, V., Gardner, M., Callaghan, V., Mattila, P., Guetl, C., Petrović, V. M., & Jovanović, K. (2016). Virtual laboratories for education in science, technology, and engineering: A review. Computers & Education, 95, 309–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2016.02.002
  • Sherman, W. R., & Craig, A. B. (2003). Understanding Virtual Reality: Interface, Application, and Design. Morgan Kaufmann.
  • Stojšić, I., Ivkov-Džigurski, A., & Maričić, O. (2019). Virtual Reality as a Learning Tool: How and Where to Start with Immersive Teaching. In L. Daniela (Ed.), Didactics of Smart Pedagogy: Smart Pedagogy for Technology Enhanced Learning (pp. 353–369). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01551-0_18
Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 243 - 253, 31.05.2024
https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.1419279

Abstract

References

  • Alalwan, N., Cheng, L., Al-Samarraie, H., Yousef, R., Ibrahim Alzahrani, A., & Sarsam, S. M. (2020). Challenges and Prospects of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Utilization among Primary School Teachers: A Developing Country Perspective. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 66, 100876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2020.100876
  • Araiza-Alba, P., Keane, T., & Kaufman, J. (2022). Are we ready for virtual reality in K–12 classrooms? Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 31(4), 471–491. https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2022.2033307
  • Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (Fifth edition). SAGE Publications, Inc.
  • Gkoumas, C., & Izzouzi, L. (2023). Is Immersive Virtual Reality in K-12 Education Ready for Primetime? Challenges, Possibilities, and Considerations. 2023 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW), 541–544. https://doi.org/10.1109/VRW58643.2023.00119
  • Graeske, C., & Sjöberg, S. A. (2021). VR-Technology in Teaching: Opportunities and Challenges. International Education Studies, 14(8), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v14n8p76
  • Hsiao, P.-W., & Su, C.-H. (2021). A Study on the Impact of STEAM Education for Sustainable Development Courses and Its Effects on Student Motivation and Learning. Sustainability, 13(7), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073772
  • Ibáñez, M.-B., & Delgado-Kloos, C. (2018). Augmented reality for STEM learning: A systematic review. Computers & Education, 123, 109–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.05.002
  • Kaplan, G., Cagiltay, K., Kara Aydemir, A. G., Çelik, B., & Tunga, Y. (2022). The Digital Teachers Project: A Step towards Empowering Teachers for More Equitable Education. AERA, 2022, California, USA.
  • Kinshuk, Chen, N.-S., Cheng, I.-L., & Chew, S. W. (2016). Evolution Is not enough: Revolutionizing Current Learning Environments to Smart Learning Environments. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 26(2), 561–581. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-016-0108-x
  • Lowood, H. E. (2023, November 16). Virtual Reality. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/virtual-reality
  • Maas, M., & Hughes, J. (2020). Virtual, augmented and mixed reality in K–12 education: A review of the literature. Technology Pedagogy and Education. 29(2), 231–249 https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2020.1737210
  • Mantovani, F. (2001). VR Learning: Potential and Challenges for the Use of 3D Environments in Education and Training. In G. Riva & C. Galimberti (Eds.), Towards CyberPsychology:Mind, Cognitions and Society in the Internet Age (pp. 207–226). IOS Press.
  • Mantovani, F., Castelnuovo, G., Gaggioli, A., & Riva, G. (2003). Virtual Reality Training for Health-Care Professionals. Cyberpsychology & Behavior : The Impact of the Internet, Multimedia and Virtual Reality on Behavior and Society, 6, 389–395. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493103322278772
  • Orhak, S. (2023). A Kirkpatrick Model Perspective on the Transformative Power of the Digital Teachers Project [M.S. Thesis]. Middle East Technical University. Retrieved from: https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/105504
  • Park, S.-M., & Kim, Y.-G. (2022). A Metaverse: Taxonomy, Components, Applications, and Open Challenges. In IEEE Access, vol. 10 pp, 4209–4251. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3140175
  • Pellas, N., Mystakidis, S., & Kazanidis, I. (2021). Immersive Virtual Reality in K-12 and Higher Education: A systematic review of the last decade scientific literature. Virtual Reality, 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-020-00489-9
  • Potkonjak, V., Gardner, M., Callaghan, V., Mattila, P., Guetl, C., Petrović, V. M., & Jovanović, K. (2016). Virtual laboratories for education in science, technology, and engineering: A review. Computers & Education, 95, 309–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2016.02.002
  • Sherman, W. R., & Craig, A. B. (2003). Understanding Virtual Reality: Interface, Application, and Design. Morgan Kaufmann.
  • Stojšić, I., Ivkov-Džigurski, A., & Maričić, O. (2019). Virtual Reality as a Learning Tool: How and Where to Start with Immersive Teaching. In L. Daniela (Ed.), Didactics of Smart Pedagogy: Smart Pedagogy for Technology Enhanced Learning (pp. 353–369). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01551-0_18
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Instructional Technologies
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Serhat Orhak 0009-0003-3000-7676

Kürşat Çağıltay 0000-0003-1973-7056

Publication Date May 31, 2024
Submission Date January 13, 2024
Acceptance Date May 30, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 7 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Orhak, S., & Çağıltay, K. (2024). Unlocking the potential of virtual reality in education: Insights from teachers and recommendations for integration. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 7(2), 243-253. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.1419279


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