Immersive virtual learning spaces for emotional engagement in education with the classroom-ready virtual reality device CLASS VR

• Author(s): Magalhães, Celestino ; Bento, Marco ; Lencastre, José Alberto
• Date: 2025
• Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/94961
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Virtual Reality; Immersive Virtual Learning Environments; CLASS VR; Innovative Teaching Methods; Technology-Enhanced Learning; Usability; Students’ Opinions
• Document Type: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Contributor(s): Universidade do Minho

Description

Students by offering an interactive, multi-sensory journey with virtual reality (VR). Such immersive experiences aim to engross students to the extent that they feel an integral part of the educational narrative rather than mere spectators of facts. These settings frequently employ virtual reality technology to foster a vivid and engaging learning atmosphere. This paper delves into using these immersive spaces with VR for teaching science threshold concepts and their effectiveness in stimulating student engagement through emotional resonance. The emotional bond fostered by such environments may boost student involvement in studying threshold concepts. The research surveyed forty-seven students across two ninth-grade classes, gathering data through open and closed-ended survey questions. Feedback from the students suggests that immersive virtual learning spaces are an effective pedagogical tool, potentially deepening their emotional engagement and enhancing their educational experience.