Game-Based Teaching of Basic Hardware Components With an Educational Virtual Reality at Different Levels of Immersion

Abstract

Basic knowledge about the basic hardware components of a computer contributes to an understanding of our digital environment. Even though the best way to explore the components of a computer might be to build or take apart a real computer, this can be time consuming, dangerous, and expensive. In the virtual reality "Bill's Computer Workshop", students explore the inside of a computer while searching for hardware components. A study with 71 middle school students compared three different devices (laptop, Mobile VR, Head-Mounted-Display) regarding their induced levels of presence and resulting learning outcomes. The findings show 1) a strong effect of the virtual environment for the intended learning objectives, 2) a higher level of technological immersion does not automatically lead to higher learning outcomes, and 3) a positive correlation between presence and learning outcomes. We conclude that the use of immersive technologies for Computer Science Education can have merit when careful design considerations regarding vividness and interactivity of the virtual environments are taken into account.