Learning in Immersive Virtual Worlds from the Perspective of Media Didactics
DOI:
10.47709/brilliance.v4i2.4893Keywords:
Educational technology, Experiential learning, Immersive learning, Media didactics, Virtual realityDimension Badge Record
Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) technologies are increasingly recognized for their potential to enrich educational settings, yet their integration often emphasizes technological novelty over pedagogical effectiveness. In the domain of media didactics, VR’s value lies not only in its immersive and interactive capabilities but also in its capacity to fulfill specific educational objectives through structured engagement. This study explores the role of immersive VR environments in supporting educational activities by aligning VR’s affordances—such as realism, interactivity, and user engagement—with established didactic principles. The primary objective is to provide a framework that encourages educators to implement VR in ways that are pedagogically sound, thereby enhancing learner engagement and skill acquisition. Using a qualitative approach, the study synthesizes recent literature and analyzes case studies within four key VR applications: training environments, construction tools, exploration experiences, and experimental simulations. Results indicate that VR significantly contributes to experiential learning across these domains, with applications including skill-based training in virtual workshops, exploratory learning through virtual field trips, and controlled experimentation that supports hypothesis testing in virtual worlds. The study concludes that VR holds transformative potential for education; however, its impact is maximized when embedded within a purposeful didactic framework. By aligning VR applications with clear educational goals, VR can foster cognitive and emotional engagement, improving learning outcomes across diverse disciplines.
Abstract viewed = 0 times
References
Alizadehsalehi, S., Hadavi, A., & Huang, J. C. (2019). Virtual Reality for Design and Construction Education Environment. AEI 2019, 193–203. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784482261.023
Alnagrat, A. J. A. (2022). Virtual Transformations in Human Learning Environment: An Extended Reality Approach. Journal of Human Centered Technology, 1(2), 116–124.
Alnagrat, A. J. A., Ismail, R. C., & Idrus, S. Z. S. (2021). Extended Reality (XR) in Virtual Laboratories: A Review of Challenges and Future Training Directions. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1874(1), 012031.
Alnagrat, A. J. A., Ismail, R. C., & Idrus, S. Z. S. (2022). Design Safety Training Using Extended Reality Tracking Tools in Semiconductor Fabrication Laboratory Furnace BT - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Robotics, Vision, Signal Processing and Power Applications (N. M. Mahyuddin, N. R. Mat Noor, & H. A. Mat Sakim (eds.); pp. 1041–1046). Springer Singapore.
Babu, S. K., Krishna, S., Unnikrishnan, R., & Bhavani, R. R. (2018). Virtual reality learning environments for vocational education: A comparison study with conventional instructional media on knowledge retention. 2018 IEEE 18th International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT), 385–389.
Barbero-Barrera, M. del M., Sánchez-Aparicio, L. J., & Gayoso Heredia, M. (2022). Pedagogía de la construcción: combinación de técnicas de aprendizaje. X Jornadas Sobre Innovación Docente En Arquitectura (JIDA’22), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Reus, 17 y 18 de Noviembre de 2022: Libro de Actas, 163–171. https://doi.org/10.5821/jida.2022.11539
Bonney, E., Jelsma, L. D., Ferguson, G. D., & Smits-Engelsman, B. C. M. (2017). Learning better by repetition or variation? Is transfer at odds with task specific training? PLOS ONE, 12(3), e0174214. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174214
Burdea, G. C., & Coiffet, P. (2024). Virtual reality technology. John Wiley & Sons.
Chen, M., Zhang, W., Du, X., Liang, H., Wu, Y., Fan, Y., Jin, M., & Sun, J. (2023). Research on interactive teaching platform based on VR technology. In Y. Yue (Ed.), International Conference on Precision Instruments and Optical Engineering (PIOE 2022) (Vol. 12585, p. 52). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2668106
Chiang, T. H.-C. (2021). Investigating effects of interactive virtual reality games and gender on immersion, empathy and behavior into environmental education. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 608407.
Dalgarno, B., & Lee, M. J. W. (2010). What are the learning affordances of 3?D virtual environments? British Journal of Educational Technology, 41(1), 10–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2009.01038.x
Dede, C. (2009). Immersive interfaces for engagement and learning. Science, 323(5910), 66–69.
Dinet, J., & Kitajima, M. (2018). Immersive interfaces for engagement and learning: Cognitive implications. Proceedings of the Virtual Reality International Conference-Laval Virtual, 1–8.
Hochmitz, I., & Yuviler-Gavish, N. (2011). Physical Fidelity Versus Cognitive Fidelity Training in Procedural Skills Acquisition. Human Factors, 53(5), 489–501. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720811412777
Lai, M., Taheri, K., Aziz, R., Milaire, P., Rothman, Z., Shi, K., & Nazerali-Maitland, A. (2023). Evaluation of a novel virtual reality immersive clinical experience to enhance medical education curriculum. Canadian Medical Education Journal, 15(3 SE-You Should Try This), 107–109. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.73165
Lerner, D., Mohr, S., Schild, J., Göring, M., & Luiz, T. (2020). An immersive multi-user virtual reality for emergency simulation training: Usability study. JMIR Serious Games, 8(3), e18822.
Lungu, A. J., Swinkels, W., Claesen, L., Tu, P., Egger, J., & Chen, X. (2021). A review on the applications of virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality in surgical simulation: an extension to different kinds of surgery. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 18(1), 47–62.
Ly, S. L. S., Saade, R. G., & Morin, D. (2017). Immersive learning: Using a web-based learning tool in a phd course to enhance the learning experience. Journal of Information Technology Education. Research, 16, 227.
Magalhães, R., Veloso, R., Gomes, P. V., Marques, A., & Pereira-Loureiro, J. (2023). Extended Reality in the Operating Room: Robot-Assisted Orthopedics Surgery with Live and Interactive Streaming for Medical Students. VI Congreso Xove TIC: Impulsando El Talento Científico. Octubre, 2023, A Coruña, 63–68.
Mahmoud, K., Harris, I., Yassin, H., Hurkxkens, T. J., Matar, O. K., Bhatia, N., & Kalkanis, I. (2020). Does Immersive VR Increase Learning Gain When Compared to a Non-immersive VR Learning Experience? BT - Learning and Collaboration Technologies. Human and Technology Ecosystems (P. Zaphiris & A. Ioannou (eds.); pp. 480–498). Springer International Publishing.
Marks, B., & Thomas, J. (2022). Adoption of virtual reality technology in higher education: An evaluation of five teaching semesters in a purpose-designed laboratory. Education and Information Technologies, 27(1), 1287–1305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10653-6
Milgram, P., & Kishino, F. (1994). A taxonomy of mixed reality visual displays. IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Information and Systems, 77(12), 1321–1329.
Mystakidis, S., & Lympouridis, V. (2023). Immersive learning. Encyclopedia, 3(2), 396–405.
Onkovich, A. (2013). Media Didactics in Higher Education: Oriented Media Education BT - Worldwide Commonalities and Challenges in Information Literacy Research and Practice (S. Kurbano?lu, E. Grassian, D. Mizrachi, R. Catts, & S. Špiranec (eds.); pp. 282–287). Springer International Publishing.
Papak, P. P., & Mezak, J. (2021). Attitudes of Students, Future Teachers, to the Importance of Using Media in Teaching. 2021 44th International Convention on Information, Communication and Electronic Technology (MIPRO), 636–640. https://doi.org/10.23919/MIPRO52101.2021.9596854
Parong, J., & Mayer, R. E. (2018). Learning science in immersive virtual reality. Journal of Educational Psychology, 110(6), 785–797. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000241
Patil, S. (2021). PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AS THE EPITOME OF SELF LEARNING IN THE NEW WORLD. Towards Excellence, 13(3).
Radianti, J., Majchrzak, T. A., Fromm, J., & Wohlgenannt, I. (2020). A systematic review of immersive virtual reality applications for higher education: Design elements, lessons learned, and research agenda. Computers & Education, 147, 103778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103778
Skarbez, R., Smith, M., & Whitton, M. C. (2021). Revisiting Milgram and Kishino’s reality-virtuality continuum. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2, 647997.
Slater, M., & Sanchez-Vives, M. V. (2016). Enhancing our lives with immersive virtual reality. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 3, 74.
Stern, M. J., & Powell, R. B. (2020). Field Trips and the Experiential Learning Cycle. Journal of Interpretation Research, 25(1), 46–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/1092587220963530
Triepels, C. P. R., Smeets, C. F. A., Notten, K. J. B., Kruitwagen, R. F. P. M., Futterer, J. J., Vergeldt, T. F. M., & Van Kuijk, S. M. J. (2020). Does three?dimensional anatomy improve student understanding? Clinical Anatomy, 33(1), 25–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.23405
Wang, Y, Wang, J., Li, Y., Yang, T., & Ren, C. (2022). The Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based VR Training System With Haptic Guidance for Catheterization Skill Transfer. IEEE Sensors Journal, 22(23), 23356–23366. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2022.3212989
Wang, Yanqing, Gong, S., Cao, Y., Lang, Y., & Xu, X. (2023). The effects of affective pedagogical agent in multimedia learning environments: A meta-analysis. Educational Research Review, 38, 100506. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2022.100506
Xiao, Q., Li, Z., Shi, K., & Gao, X. (2023). Electric locomotive electrical control training based on virtual reality technology. Engineering Reports, 5(5), e12638.
Xu, Y. (2022). Exploration and Practice of Virtual Simulation Laboratory Construction of Environmental Art Based on Computer Aid. Advances in Education, Humanities and Social Science Research, 1(3), 339.
Zhang, J. (2019). Immersive Virtual Reality Training to Enhance Procedural Knowledge Retention. https://doi.org/10.25394/PGS.8307560.v1
Zhang, Z., Wen, F., Sun, Z., Guo, X., He, T., & Lee, C. (2022). Artificial intelligence?enabled sensing technologies in the 5G/internet of things era: from virtual reality/augmented reality to the digital twin. Advanced Intelligent Systems, 4(7), 2100228.
Zhu, K., Cao, J., Chen, G., He, Q., & Zhang, P. (2023). A General Construction Method of Virtual Simulation Experiment Platform Based on Bibliometrics and Analytic Hierarchy Process. Education Sciences, 13(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13010080
Downloads
ARTICLE Published HISTORY
Accepted Date: 2024-11-01
Published Date: 2024-11-15
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Asma Al Mokhtar Miftah Alhaj Salem, Rawad Mansour Abdulhafith Alfaqi, Ahmed Jamah Ahmed Alnagrat
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
info@itscience.org, web: 
