Abstract
AbstractVirtual Reality (VR) involves the coupling of visual communication hardware and software. The technology is capable of offering transformative educational practice and is increasingly being adopted within the biochemistry domain to better understand complex biochemical processes. This article documents a pilot study for the efficacy of VR in biochemistry education at undergraduate university level, focusing on the citric acid cycle: a central process for extracting energy in most cellular life forms. 10 participants were equipped with a VR headset and electrodermal activity (EDA) sensors, then immersed within a digital environment where they were able to learn the 8 main steps of the citric acid cycle within a virtual lab by completing 8 levels of activity. Post and pre surveys were taken, along with EDA readings throughout the students’ interaction with VR. Research findings support the hypothesis that VR increase students’ understanding, particularly if students feel engaged, stimulated and intend to use the technology. Moreover, EDA analysis indicated that the majority of participants demonstrate enhanced engagement in the education-based VR-experience as measured by elevated levels of skin conductance, a marker for autonomic arousal and a measure of engagement in an activity.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Library and Information Sciences,Education
Reference32 articles.
1. Bake, L. B., & Wolfe, A. S. (2020). Physiological mechanisms determining eccrine sweat composition. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120, 719–752.
2. Bennie, S. J., Ranaghan, K. E., Deeks, H., Goldsmith, H. E., & O’Connor, M. B. (2019). Teaching Enzyme Catalysis Using Interactive Molecular Dynamics in Virtual Reality. Journal of Chemical Education, 96(11), 2488–2496.
3. Bertolini, G., & Straumann, D. (2016). Moving in a Moving World: A Review on Vestibular Motion Sickness. Frontiers in Neurology, 7(14), 3389.
4. Cahapay, M. (2021). Kirkpatrick Model: Its Limitations as Used in Higher Education Evaluation. International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, 8(1), 135–144.
5. Cao, Z., Jerald, J. & Kopper, R. (2018). Visually-Induced Motion Sickness Reduction via Static and Dynamic Rest Frames,” in IEEE Annual International Symposium Virtual Reality, Reutlingen.