ChoroPhronesis

Our paper

Desktop Versus Immersive Virtual Environments: Effects on Spatial Learning

with Jiayan Zhao, Tesalee Sensibaugh, Bobby Bodenheimer, Timothy P. McNamara, Alina Nazareth, Nora Newcombe, Meredith Minear, and Alexander Klippel as authors has been accepted for publication in Spatial Cognition and Computation.

Although immersive virtual reality is attractive to users, we know relatively little about whether higher immersion levels increase or decrease spatial learning outcomes. In addition, questions remain about how different approaches to travel within a virtual environment affect spatial learning. In this paper, we investigated the role of immersion (desktop computer versus HTC Vive) and teleportation in spatial learning. Results showed few differences between conditions, favoring, if anything, the desktop environment. There seems to be no advantage of using continuous travel over teleportation, or using the Vive with teleportation compared to a desktop computer. Discussing the results, we look critically at the experimental design, identify potentially confounding variables, and suggest avenues for future research.

Zhao, J., Sensibaugh, T., Bodenheimer, B., McNamara, T., Nazareth, A., Newcombe, N., Minear, M., & Klippel, A. (accepted): Desktop Versus Immersive Virtual Environments: Effects on Spatial Learning. In Spatial Cognition and Computation.

Our paper

Exploring the Effects of Geographic Scale on Spatial Learning

with Jiayan Zhao, Mark Simpson, Jan Oliver Wallgrün, Pejman Sajjadi, and Alexander Klippel as authors has been accepted for publication in Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications (CR:PI).

The research focuses on related but unstudied issues concerning the impact of visual accessibility of an environment (i.e., geographic scale) on spatial learning. Results indicate that an increased geographic scale, which was accessible through an elevated perspective in this study, can help bridge the performance gap in spatial learning between high- and low-spatial ability participants.

Zhao, J., Simpson, M., Wallgrün, J. O., Sajjadi, P., & Klippel, A. (accepted): Exploring the Effects of Geographic Scale on Spatial Learning. In Cognitive Research: Principles &
Implications.

Our paper

Learning in the field: Comparison of desktop, immersive virtual reality, and actual field trips for place-based STEM education

with Jiayan Zhao, Peter LaFemina, Julia Carr, Pejman Sajjadi, Jan Oliver Wallgrün, and Alexander Klippel as authors has been accepted for the IEEE VR 2020 conference.

This study provides empirical evidence of the potential of virtual field trips to
support and enhance field-based learning in geoscience education. Specifically, our results revealed a significant positive effect of both desktop and immersive virtual field trips against a traditional field trip on students’ learning experience and perceived learning outcomes.

Zhao, J., LaFemina, P., Carr, J., Sajjadi, P., Wallgrün, J. O., & Klippel, A. (accepted), Learning in the field: Comparison of desktop, immersive virtual reality, and actual field trips for place-based STEM education. 2020 IEEE Virtual Reality Conference.

Klippel, A., Zhao, J., Oprean, D., Wallgrün, J. O., Stubbs, C., LaFemina, P. C., & Jackson, K. L. (accepted). The value of being there: Toward a science of immersive virtual field trips. Virtual Reality.

Our paper

For the Many, Not the One: Designing Low-Cost Joint VR Experiences for Place-Based Learning

with Jan Oliver Wallgrün, Jack (Shen-Kuen) Chang, Jiayan Zhao, Pejman Sajjadi, Danielle Oprean, Thomas B. Murphy, Jennifer Baka, and Alexander Klippel as authors has been accepted for this year’s EuroVR conference taking place in October in Tallinn, Estonia.

The paper describes a study on using a joint multi-user VR experience of a fracking site in Pennsylvania in a class on Energy Policy.

J. O. Wallgrün, S.-K. Chang, J. Zhao, P. Sajjadi, D. Oprean, T. B. Murphy, J. Baka, and A. Klippel (to appear). For the Many, Not the One: Designing Low-Cost Joint VR Experiences for Place-Based Learning. In P. Bourdot, V. Interrante, L. Nedel, N. Magnenat-Thalmann, G. Zachmann (Eds.) Proceedings of EuroVR 2019 – Scientific track. Springer.
pdf (final draft)