Using Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Reflections of STEM Teachers on the Use of Teaching and Learning Tools

The purpose  of the study was to determine teachers’ opinions about virtual reality (VR). Virtual Reality Interview Form (VRIF) administered to seven teachers after the implementation of VR practices. Teachers received three weeks of intensive training. Afterward, teachers applied VR for two months...

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Main Authors: Bekir Yildirim, Emine Sahin-Topalcengiz, Gokhan Arikan, Serkan Timur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Seyit Ahmet Kıray 2020-04-01
Series:Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health
Online Access:https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/263
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author Bekir Yildirim
Emine Sahin-Topalcengiz
Gokhan Arikan
Serkan Timur
author_facet Bekir Yildirim
Emine Sahin-Topalcengiz
Gokhan Arikan
Serkan Timur
author_sort Bekir Yildirim
collection DOAJ
description The purpose  of the study was to determine teachers’ opinions about virtual reality (VR). Virtual Reality Interview Form (VRIF) administered to seven teachers after the implementation of VR practices. Teachers received three weeks of intensive training. Afterward, teachers applied VR for two months in their classrooms. Later, interviews held with them. Findings indicated that different VR practices, including Google Cardboard, were used in the classroom. According to the teachers, using virtual reality in the classroom captured students’ interest, increased their creativity, allowed students to take virtual trips, increased students’ motivation, improved students’ technology literacy, individualized learning; made students easier to understand difficult concepts. The potential problems of using VR were not asked the teachers; however, teachers mentioned that online safety and security, student access, and technology gaps were the problems they faced. The findings of this study suggest that the use of VR allows teachers to visualize abstract topics and enrich instruction. A VR orientation module would be provided teachers with opportunities to learn, practice, and apply their VR skills before being placed in the classroom. 
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2020-04-01
publisher Seyit Ahmet Kıray
record_format Article
series Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health
spelling doaj-art-a92925f1a79f4b9ba265e846b5b8a05a2025-02-03T21:52:27ZengSeyit Ahmet KırayJournal of Education in Science, Environment and Health2149-214X2020-04-0163102Using Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Reflections of STEM Teachers on the Use of Teaching and Learning ToolsBekir YildirimEmine Sahin-TopalcengizGokhan ArikanSerkan TimurThe purpose  of the study was to determine teachers’ opinions about virtual reality (VR). Virtual Reality Interview Form (VRIF) administered to seven teachers after the implementation of VR practices. Teachers received three weeks of intensive training. Afterward, teachers applied VR for two months in their classrooms. Later, interviews held with them. Findings indicated that different VR practices, including Google Cardboard, were used in the classroom. According to the teachers, using virtual reality in the classroom captured students’ interest, increased their creativity, allowed students to take virtual trips, increased students’ motivation, improved students’ technology literacy, individualized learning; made students easier to understand difficult concepts. The potential problems of using VR were not asked the teachers; however, teachers mentioned that online safety and security, student access, and technology gaps were the problems they faced. The findings of this study suggest that the use of VR allows teachers to visualize abstract topics and enrich instruction. A VR orientation module would be provided teachers with opportunities to learn, practice, and apply their VR skills before being placed in the classroom. https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/263
spellingShingle Bekir Yildirim
Emine Sahin-Topalcengiz
Gokhan Arikan
Serkan Timur
Using Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Reflections of STEM Teachers on the Use of Teaching and Learning Tools
Journal of Education in Science, Environment and Health
title Using Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Reflections of STEM Teachers on the Use of Teaching and Learning Tools
title_full Using Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Reflections of STEM Teachers on the Use of Teaching and Learning Tools
title_fullStr Using Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Reflections of STEM Teachers on the Use of Teaching and Learning Tools
title_full_unstemmed Using Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Reflections of STEM Teachers on the Use of Teaching and Learning Tools
title_short Using Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Reflections of STEM Teachers on the Use of Teaching and Learning Tools
title_sort using virtual reality in the classroom reflections of stem teachers on the use of teaching and learning tools
url https://jeseh.net/index.php/jeseh/article/view/263
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