Week 6 - Virtual Reality (VR)

Updates: Included reference for CoSpaces

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of an environment that creates an interactive experience that is both realistic and immersive for the user (McGovern et al, 2020). Implementing VR into the education context will positively benefit students, as immersing them within virtual environments, supports students learning and understanding of new concepts and further develops their spatial reasoning, critical thinking and problem-solving skills (Bower et al, 2020).

CoSpaces Edu is a 3D virtual world building tool that has many features such as 360-degree tours, storytelling, exhibitions, games and stimulations (CoSpaces Edu, 2023). CoSpaces provides a gallery of virtual worlds made by other users, which students can explore and interact with. It also allows students to create a virtual world. They can choose from a range of environments and add characters (humans and animals) to the environment. Students can also animate their characters by using block coding.

Fostering creativity

CoSpaces Edu is a highly effective tool for fostering student’s creativity as it enhances students critical thinking, communication, digital literacy and collaboration skills, making it an extremely beneficial program for teachers to apply within the classroom. CoSpaces can be implemented by teachers for the NSW Science and Technology Syllabus, ST1-4LW-S which has Stage 1 students “describe observable features of living things and their environments” (NESA, 2017). Students could create a virtual world in CoSpaces that explores the features of an animal and the environment they live in. The NSW Geography syllabus, GE2-2 requires students to “describe the ways people, places and environments interact” (NESA, 2015). Students could create a virtual world in CoSpaces Edu, that displays the way people interact within a certain place or environment.

CC By Olivia Spanswick

CC By Olivia Spanswick

Pedagogy

Adopting the constructivist pedagogy within CoSpaces Edu allows students to engage in productive failure through the process of trial-and-error, by allowing students to explore block coding to manipulate the characters and objects when creating their virtual world. Students also actively construct meaningful knowledge from authentic and individual experiences, this enhances understanding of concepts and ideas (Huang et al, 2010)

Limitation

A limitation of CoSpaces is that it can be extremely difficult for students to use if they are new to or have never done block coding before. Learning how to code can be incredibly time consuming. This might cause students to lose motivation and not be engaged, therefore hindering their learning.

References:

Bower, M., DeWitt, D., and Lai, J. W. M. (2020). Reasons associated with preservice teachers’ intention to use immersive virtual reality in education. British Journal of Educational Technology, 51(6), 2214–2232. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13009

CoSpaces Edu. (2023). CoSpaces Edu for kid-friendly 3D creation and coding. https://cospaces.io/edu/

Huang, H.-M., Rauch, U., & Liaw, S.-S. (2010). Investigating learners’ attitudes toward virtual reality learning environments: Based on a constructivist approach. Computers and Education, 55(3), 1171–1182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2010.05.014

McGovern, E., Moreira, G., and Luna-Nevarez, C. (2020). An application of virtual reality in education: Can this technology enhance the quality of students’ learning experience? Journal of Education for Business, 95(7), 490–496. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2019.1703096

NSW Educational Standards Authority (2015). Geography K-10 syllabus: NSW syllabus for the Australian curriculum. https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/learning-areas/hsie/geography-k-10

NSW Educational Standards Authority (2017). Science and technology K-6 syllabus: NSW

syllabus for the Australian curriculum. https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/learning-areas/science/science-and-technology-k-6-new-syllabus