Virtual Reality Enhancement of Student Learning?
Virtual Reality Enhancement of Student Learning?
Ben Hanson (School of Physics and Astronomy)
Project overview
Philosophers and scholars have hypothesised that understanding is acquired first as conceptual understanding, then as technical understanding. We build an internal story that becomes more robust as we gather evidence. However, some aspects of physics are so abstract that conceptual understanding is difficult to attain, as it is impossible to gain first-hand experience.
My project will investigate whether virtual reality(VR) can be used to supplement first-hand experience, and thus aid learning. Through VR "scenarios" that have been designed to address a specific physical concept, we will investigate whether this aids both conceptual and subsequent mathematical understanding of complex physics topics.
The research approach
We will employ high-level computer programming to design the VR scenarios through the Unity Development platform, and employ the expertise of academics around the School of Physics & Astronomy to help design the teaching frameworks. We will utilise qualitative and quantitative metrics through pre- and post-VR surveys to gauge conceptual and mathematical understanding.
Finally, the project will be performed together with students at BSc and MSc levels as part of their physics degree programs; who better to help us craft methods to learn the topics better!
If you would like to find out more about the project contact Ben Hanson
Each fellowship has a project sponsor that helps the fellows achieve impact across the institution. The sponsor for this fellowship is Kenny McDowall
Project start date: 1 September 2022