Learning with immersive virtual reality in subject lessons

The VRiS project focusses on the use of immersive virtual reality in science lessons.

Even very young children should be introduced to learning with and via digital media. By supplementing Computing Science learning, this sub-area has been integrated into primary school science lessons.

Digital learning opportunities no longer only include videos or educational games, but also complex learning environments designed with the help of the latest technologies such as VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality). This rightly raises the question of whether and, if so, how such learning environments can be integrated into subject teaching.

In addition to answering these questions, the VRiS project is also dedicated to the question of feasibility. For sustainable learning with and via digital media, it is necessary to create student-orientated learning opportunities. To do this, (prospective) teachers must be able to independently design and didactically prepare digital learning opportunities. This includes, in particular, the development of student-centred learning opportunities that build on the ideas and previous experiences of students.

To this end, research was carried out into the attitudes and values of general education students towards student perceptions in general, towards dealing with AR and VR in particular and towards their own competences in relation to AR and VR. In addition, the M-iVR-L model (Meaningful-immersive Virtual Reality-Learning Framework) by Mulders, Buchner and Kerres (2020) was used as an example to show what the implementation of an iVR learning opportunity for general knowledge teaching could look like.

The next step is to introduce students to the technology and didactics as part of university teaching. They will create exemplary learning environments with iVR for subject teaching.

In the future, the students' use of these developed learning environments will be researched in the SULab.

Nicolas Arndt, Dr Silke Bakenhus, Prof Dr Maja Brückmann and Dr Marisa Alena Holzapfel will answer questions about the VRiS project.

Financing

Own funds of the Institute

Publications by

Holzapfel, M. A., Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N. & Brückmann, M. (2023). What attitudes and values do science education students have towards using and learning with AR and VR? In: D. Schmeinck, K. Michalik & T. Goll (Eds.). Challenges and future perspectives (pp. 71-78). Bad Heilbrunn: Julius Klinkhardt.

Holzapfel, M., Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N. & Brückmann, M. (2023). Attitudes and values of general studies students towards learning with augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in general studies. MedienPädagogik: Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung, 48 (AR/VR - Part 2), pp. 151-169. doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/51/2023.01.16.X

Bakenhus, S., Holzapfel, M., Arndt, N. & Brückmann, M. (2022). The creation of a learning environment with immersive virtual reality for the subject Sachunterricht using the M-iVR-L model. MedienPädagogik: Journal for Theory and Practice of Media Education, 47(AR/VR - Part 1), pp. 76-93. doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/47/2022.04.04.X

Contributions at conferences

Bakenhus, S. (2024). Sachunterricht 2.0 - A seminar concept for the creation of virtual learning locations using the example of Evenburg Castle (East Frisia). Poster for the conference of the Kompetenzverbund lernen:digital with the conference title "Digitale Transformation für Schule und Lehrkräfte gestalten" Potsdam, Campus Griebnitzsee, 30.09.-02.10.2024.

Brückmann, M., Tempelmann, S., Arndt, N., Bakenhus, S., Dubach, J., Haarhus, L., & Holzapfel, M. (2024). Is the (real) world not enough? Findings on the use of augmented and virtual reality in subject teaching. Symposium for the 33rd annual conference of the Gesellschaft der Didaktik des Sachunterrichts (GDSU) in Hanover, "Mit Sachunterricht Zukunft gestalten?! - Challenges and potentials in the context of complexity and uncertainty", 7-9 March 2024.

Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N., Holzapfel, M. & Brückmann, M. (2023). Schloss Evenburg as an extracurricular virtual learning location? - Testing a seminar concept. Lecture at the 32nd annual conference of the Society of Didactics of Sachunterricht (GDSU) in Salzburg, "Thinking in Alternatives - Critique, Reflection and Transformation in Sachunterricht", 22-25 February 2023.

Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N., Holzapfel, M. & Brückmann, M. (2023). Schloss Evenburg as an extracurricular virtual learning location? - Testing a seminar concept. Lecture at the 32nd annual conference of the Society of Didactics of Sachunterricht (GDSU) in Salzburg, "Thinking in Alternatives - Critique, Reflection and Transformation in Sachunterricht", 22-25 February 2023.

Arndt, N., Holzapfel, M., Bakenhus, S. and Brückmann, M. (2022, June). Immersive VR in elementary Science education: from student conceptions to theoretical implementation. Poster at the conference of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) SIG 11, Oldenburg.

Holzapfel, M., Bakenhus, S., Arndt, N. & Brückmann, M. (2022, March). Attitudes and values of science education students towards students' perceptions and prior experiences of learning with iVR. Paper presented at the 31st annual conference of the Gesellschaft für Didaktik des Sachunterrichtes (GDSU), Cologne (online).