Exploring Student Perspective-Taking in a Virtual Reality Courtroom Tour (Poster 17)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 1:45 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Advanced Technologies for Learning Poster Session 1

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) presents authentic learning environments that allow students to adopt different forms of perspective-taking. This study investigates how perspectivism shaped legal studies students’ reflections of a VR courtroom tour. Drawing on inductive qualitative thematic analysis and situated learning theories, we focused on the forms and functions of student perspective-taking and pursued the following research question: How do students alternatively reflect on and embody perspectives within a VR courtroom tour? Findings from this study show that students use self-perspective (from prior experience) and the perspectives of others to foster a sense of presence and facilitate their understanding of substantive content. Such findings highlight the importance of considering student knowledge and prior experience in VR design.

Authors

• Courtney Topic, Grand Valley State University

• Jacob Fortman, Michigan State University

• Adrian Copeland, Grand Valley State University

• Joshua Sheffer, Grand Valley State University