Share Paper: Museum-based Virtual Reality and Middle Schoolers Interest and Engagement in Science

  1. Ross Ramsay, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
  2. Mengyi Mao, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
  3. Janice Anderson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
  4. Jill Hamm, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
Tuesday, October 26 10:15-10:45 AM ROOM 4

Abstract: This study explores the impact of an immersive VR experience and middle school students’ interest in and engagement with science. Thirteen students completed a VR experience with two components: a virtual laboratory and a game. Afterwards, students were interviewed and asked to describe their experiences. Students consistently reported the VR experience to be enjoyable and engaging. Moreover, the VR experience seemed to trigger a situational interest in science among the students, with some evidence to suggest that this interest could be sustained and developed in the long term. Implications for research and practice are discussed.