Emerging Challenges for HCI: Enabling Effective Use of VR in Education and Training

Abstract

This chapter considers some of the challenges in providing effective virtual reality (VR) environments for teaching and training, where users are encouraged and enabled to be truly engaged in their learning. One approach is to use inquiry-based learning, linking that to the use of VR as a vehicle for education. This chapter introduces the notion of virtual learning spaces in a more general form and makes the case that a virtual learning space is any online environment where the learner perceives that they are interacting or gaming, and thus can be enabled within a virtual environment. Thus, virtual learning spaces are not limited to bespoke education learning software but can be considered in any context where the user perceives that they are engaging, having fun, and exploring, as can be implemented within a VR platform.Infotainment or gaming is a potential area that we can exploit to improve the effectiveness of training and learning and is particularly relevant within VR learning spaces. This chapter considers both synchronous and asynchronous computer-mediated communication and virtual and immersed virtual reality to illustrate potential virtual learning spaces. The chapter presents some worked illustrations to show how this could be used with the context of teaching Computer Science.