The Role of Virtual Reality in Distance Learning: An Examination of the Efficacy on Student Learning Outcomes, Social Presence, and Collaborative Learning.
Keywords:
Distance Learning, Virtual Reality, Social Presence, Online Learning, Community, Experiential Learning, Practical Application, Virtual Learning EnvironmentsAbstract
This article discusses the potential of virtual reality (VR) as a tool for enhancing student learning outcomes in distance education. The author explores whether integrating VR technology into digital learning environments can increase social presence, experiential and communal learning, and overall student learning outcomes. The paper offers a review of the literature on VR, distance learning, social presence, practical application, and learning outcomes. While VR has the potential to enhance the educational experience, its implementation in higher education has been slow, largely due to funding constraints and instructor resistance. However, with affordable hardware options like the Meta Quest headset, VR adoption in higher education is becoming increasingly accessible. Furthermore, research shows that VR can aid in achieving higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, as well as fostering self-directed learning and experiential discovery. The author concludes that while integrating VR into online education comes with certain challenges, such as training, technical support, and investing in infrastructure, the technology's potential for facilitating better learning outcomes makes it a promising tool for the future of distance education.
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