AUGMENTED REALITY, VIRTUAL REALITY, AND ADULT LEARNERS

For adult learners, active, hands-on work and ease-of-access to course content have been shown to be effective methods to encourage learning. In this research, we are building a set of online Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) interactive components with the goal of increasing adult learners' motivation to study topics that are not normally enjoyed by these students. An AR/VR learning environment can present a learner with supplemental information based on the current physical context or cognitive state of the learner. Results from our rock simulations will be presented here.

The first set of AR/VR components for rock formation module have been built. A beta test is being conducted in an introductory science course that has a large population of elementary and middle grades education majors. Usability and motivation surveys from student volunteers will be used to determine how effective these AR/VR components are in motivating adult learners to study certain science topics.