REVEALING - REalisation of Virtual rEality LearnING Environments (VRLEs) for Higher Education

Publications

Implementation of virtual reality in teacher training: a case study with VRChat and Oculus Quest 2

Publication . Castelhano, Maria; Pedrosa, Daniela; Morgado, Leonel; Messias, Inês; Economou, Daphne; Lazou, Chrysoula; MacDowell, Paula; Pedrosa, Daniela; Beck, Dennis; Smith-Nunes, Genevieve; Mystakidis, Stylianos; Peña-Rios, Anasol; Richter, Jonathon

The growing adoption of immersive learning technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), demands a transformation in lesson planning and pedagogical practices. In this case study, 13 teachers enrolled as students in the Digital Resources in Education Master's program at the School of Education of the Santarém Polytechnic University, Portugal, participated in a practical VR experience as part of the Digital Resources II course. During the activity, participants explored learning scenarios in VRChat using Oculus Quest 2. The primary objectives were to provide teachers with hands-on experience in VR, enable them to design VR-integrated lesson plans based on instructional design principles, and facilitate critical reflection on the pedagogical implications of VR.

2025-06-16Conference object

Open access

Immersive virtual reality learning environments for higher education: a student acceptance study

Publication . Aufenanger, Stefan; Bastian, Jasmin; Bastos, Glória; Castelhano, Maria; Ferreira, Célia; Fokides, Emmanuel; Gavalas, Damianos; Kasapakis, Vlasis; Agelada, Androniki; Kostas, Apostolos; Koutromanos, George; Makrides, Gregory; Morgado, Leonel; Szemberg, Tomasz; Pedrosa, Daniela; Sofos, Alivizos; Szpond, Justyna

The study investigates the integration of Virtual Reality Learning Environments (VRLEs) in academic teaching through the EU-funded "REVEALING" project. Researchers from Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Portugal developed and evaluated five different immersive VRLEs, each focusing on diverse educational topics, including ancient Greek technology, sea urchin measurements, linear algebra, and historical expeditions. The study aims to determine effective instructional design principles for VRLEs and assess students’ acceptance and learning outcomes. The VRLEs were designed based on literature-derived principles that emphasise ease of tool usage, authentic experiences, and continuous feedback. Students from the participating universities explored these VR environments, providing feedback through a standardized questionnaire on aspects like immersion, ease of use, motivation, and emotions. Results show that most participants positively engaged with the VRLEs, reporting high motivation and positive emotional responses, particularly for experiences involving interactivity. However, challenges like motion sickness and technical issues were noted, especially at one institution. The findings suggest that immersive VR experiences can significantly enhance motivation and engagement, but their effectiveness depends on careful alignment with pedagogical goals, design quality, and user experience considerations.

2025-12Journal article

Open access