Exploring Effects of Immersive Virtual Environment on Achievement, Flow, and Empathy in Science Education

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: Science Teaching and Learning: Educational Technology in Science Education

Abstract

The advancement in virtual reality offers many opportunities to science education. This study investigated the effects of immersive virtual environment (IVE) on middle school students’ achievement, flow and empathy in science learning. For this purpose, a quasi-experimental study was designed, a pretest and posttest were used for measuring students’ achievement, and posttest questionnaires for flow and empathy. A total of 62 sixth grade students (31 in the experimental group and 31 in the control group) in China were recruited as participants. The students in the experimental groups learning science in the IVE, whereas control groups followed the desktop condition. Results showed that learning science in the IVE can significantly improve students’ achievement, flow and empathy.

Author

• Ruixue Liu, East China Normal University