Does the use and playback of head-mounted immersive virtual reality (iVR) simulations in a science course have an impact on student learning? It seems to me it would, but what does the research say? This study (24 page PDF) compares test results for students actually using iVR as compared to those merely watching the video playback. Not surprisingly, the iVR students outperformed their counterparts. This correlates with previous research mentioned in the article where students using iVR outperformed those using identical desktop simulations and text-based instruction. The study also considers the impact of iVR over time, in order to get past the novelty effect. All of that said, because of the very low sample size (n=24) the best we can say that iVR can improve student learning, not that it does.
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