This dissertation aimed to expand knowledge and practical uses of educational technology tools in high-stakes team training environments. This study depicted the real-world impacts of virtual reality (VR) technology on learning and training for the Royal New Zealand Police Academy and those training teams in high-stakes environments.…

As virtual reality (VR) becomes more commonly used in education, it is important to understand the technology's weakness and mitigate any potential negative effects on student success. One adverse side-effect of VR use is simulation-induced motion sickness, known in the context of VR as VR sickness. Previous research by Howard and Van Zandt (2021)…

Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn and educate, enhancing and supplementing the traditional learning experience by providing new ways to interact with information and people. However, its full potential in education has yet to be fully realized, as work in this space requires resolving cutting-edge technical…

Human space exploration is entering a new era through the design of missions that venture further from earth for longer durations, such as missions to the Moon and Mars. Mission success during long duration exploration missions (LDEM) requires astronauts to flawlessly execute exceptionally complex skills across a multitude of tasks, presenting new…

The goal of this qualitative study was to answer the question: How do educators make sense of learning in virtual reality? This study utilized multimedia learning theory and cognitive load theory to explore how educators understand virtual reality in education. Pre- and post-interviews as well as a VR experience were conducted with 13 educators…

As the number of STEM opportunities and the need for a scientifically literate society increases, educators in STEM fields require tools that help support these needs. Chemistry is one STEM content area that would benefit from exploring educational technology that supports conceptual understanding. An action research study was conducted to…

Virtual simulation has become prevalent in healthcare education. Much evidence proves that virtual simulation is an effective training tool for nursing training in western countries. However, its application in Hong Kong nursing education is still developing. The insufficiency of knowledge impedes the development of virtual simulation in Hong Kong…

Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used for education and training, raising questions about how to assess the degree to which people feel competent learning through VR. In 2022, Saville and colleagues developed the Virtual Reality Learning Self-Efficacy Scale (VRLSE). The current experiment builds on their work. VR can be used for a wide…

The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to examine differences in college-level math students' self-efficacy attributable to recent use of virtual reality (VR) learning environments and processes. The theoretical foundation for this study included connectivism, multi-dimensionalism and social cognitive theory, and self-efficacy…

This investigation narrates how digital game playing while integrating augmented reality can help enhance higher-order thinking. Digital game playing, when referring to games played on computers, game consoles, or handhelds, can be considered a powerful learning tool in education. The central problem of this investigation lies in the fact that…

Virtual Reality (VR) is rapidly gaining popularity as a consumer technology, yet accessibility has not been prioritized. VR enables users to interact with immersive virtual worlds, but effective interaction requires the ability to perceive and navigate the environment. Fortunately, over the past thirty years, hundreds of scene-viewing and…

Teacher preparation programs are ever evolving based on research and student needs. The use of technology, such as virtual reality (VR), is at the forefront of education to help provide opportunities for teacher candidates to practice teaching in a semi-authentic classroom environment of students with and without exceptionalities. VR is a way for…

Recently, with the advancement in 2D imaging techniques and 3D visual sensors such as LiDAR, RGB-D cameras, etc. The use of 2D and 3D data is ubiquitous in various fields like autonomous driving, AR, and VR. Therefore, we are faced with an ever-increasing demand for approaches toward the automatic processing and analysis of data from multiple…

The primary purpose of this exploratory multi-case study was to investigate how virtual reality (VR), when utilized as the primary driver of hands-on instruction, could influence the completion of the Experiential Learning Cycle (ELC) for high school level Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors. Specifically, this qualitative study…

The extent to which an intervention is perceived as socially valid significantly influences whether the intervention is selected, implemented, and maintained (Kern & Manz, 2004). Social skill interventions and evidence-based practices are often ranked with low social validity by adolescents (McCoy et al., 2016). Interventions delivered through…