A Bridge Across Cultures: How Virtual Reality Can Transform Culturally Relevant Science Teaching

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Pedagogies of Solidarity, Resistance, and Action With Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

Abstract

This project examined how virtual reality was used to promote deep science learning for urban students. We explored how student learning using VR may benefit from focusing creating technology that bridges culture. Using pre- and post-surveys (n=121) and post-interviews we examined students’ perceptions of a VR lesson about food chains that incorporated their community context. Our findings revealed that students performed above the national average on half of the assessment items and equal on the others. Conversely, the students learning demonstrated patterns of transfer as they described how science had implications for their community and social justice. The implications of this this study highlight the potential of VR to help teachers bridge the cultural distances between themselves and their students.

Authors

• Bryan A. Brown, Stanford University

• Kathryn Ribay, Stanford University

• Greses Perez, Tufts University