Exploring the Efficacy of Mixed Reality versus Traditional Methods in Higher Education: A Comparative Study

Abstract

“Immersive technology” is a broad and evolving term that encompasses various kinds of technologies and viewpoints, and has applications in various fields, such as education, healthcare, entertainment, the arts, and engineering. This research paper aims to compare the effectiveness of two teaching methods, namely the conventional method (using PowerPoint slides), and the immersive technology method (initiating a mixed reality with a HoloLens 2 device). The experiment involved two groups of students, aged between 19 and 52 years-of-age, who received different types of instruction: the first group viewed a PowerPoint slide with an image of the human muscular system, and the second group viewed a 3D hologram of the human body that displayed the same muscle groups as in the PowerPoint slide. The researchers wanted to examine if mixed reality devices could improve students’ cognitive abilities and explore if the age of the participants had any impact on the effectiveness of the instruction method. The main findings of this study are that the instruction method that used mixed reality technology, the Microsoft HoloLens 2 device, was more suitable for younger participants, and that traditional instruction methods, such as PowerPoint slides, are more appropriate for older students. While this research provides some valuable insights into the factors that influence student performance in anatomy tests, it has some limitations that should be considered.

Comparative Analysis of Mixed Reality and PowerPoint in Education: Tailoring Learning Approaches to Cognitive Profiles

“…These technologies create simulated or enhanced environments that allow learners to interact with realistic scenarios and objects [35,36]. Immersive technologies can support effective teaching methods that align with learning goals and outcomes [4,11,37,38]. They may also encourage constructivist and experiential learning approaches that allow students to build their own knowledge, learn by doing, develop creativity, and understand abstract concepts [39].…”

“…These technologies offer students the opportunity to explore complex topics and scenarios in a realistic and interactive way, which can improve their learning outcomes compared to traditional methods such as lectures, textbooks or slideshows. However, evidence on the effectiveness of immersive technologies in education is still limited and inconsistent [9,38,45,46].…”