RETTL — Mobile-based VR for informal STEM learning

Virtual reality (VR) technologies have great potential in STEM education because they provide immersive learning experiences that one cannot have in the real world. However, interactivity using VR head-mounted displays is often a solitary experience, isolating learners from the social and learning context. This makes it challenging to learn through collaborations with peers and instructors. Furthermore, many learners are excluded from using virtual reality headsets, including children, those who wear glasses, and those vulnerable to health concerns such as motion sickness, nausea, and falling. The project developed and deployed a mobile-device-based VR platform to enable social learning. The project partners with the Science Museum of Western Virginia, the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT), and the Center for Educational Networks and Impacts (CENI) at Virginia Tech to support socially constructed, informal STEM learning for their wide range of visitors, including young children with family members, college students, and local K-12 school students.

The project website includes additional details as does the VT libraries ARIES group which was instrumental in the project.

Highlighted Impacts and Outcomes

• The Science Museum of Western Virginia leadership participated from the beginning of the instructional design process, including choosing the subject matter based on needs of the museum and its visitors.  

• The exhibit was used in the Science Museum during several summer camps and is part of its current rotation for in-museum and outreach events

• Travelling outreach events have included more than 12 different events, including the Virginia Tech Science Festival, Hokie for a Day field trips, and elementary school STEM events