This study presents the results of two studies using a virtual reality (VR) public-speaking training simulation as an instructional aid in a basic communication course. Results from the first study suggest that VR practice was associated with higher subsequent speech delivery grades in the course compared to no practice. However, VR practice did…

Microsoft Excel and Access are widely used in introductory courses designed to teach the fundamentals of spreadsheet and relational database modeling skills in various disciplines. To achieve the targeted learning outcomes, instructors of these courses strive to provide students with guided, frequent, and incrementally fruitful practice with the…

Virtual experiments offer opportunities for students to engage in the scientific process and observe scientific phenomena. However, virtual experiments are not always effective for learning. The current study examined how two small manipulations might support better learning from virtual experiments and the extent to which this varied across…

The ability to predict spatial elements based on two-dimensional figures, evaluate engineering elements, identify expected deformations, and predict possible failure mechanisms are critical for engineers. However, in applied mechanics courses, many undergraduate engineering students struggle with applying these skills to engineering problems.…

There have been few, if any, metacognitive studies conducted on what community college students think about their learning when augmented reality technology is introduced to the learning environment. This qualitative collective case study looked at how emerging technologies, specifically augmented reality, within a community college classroom…

The use of animations, simulations, and remote lab experiments has taken a new turn during the pandemic. When teaching introductory-level physics courses, the simulations and animations play an important role. Carefully designed simulations assist students visualize real-life situations and help understand complex physics concepts behind them.…

Proponents of game-based learning see potential for the inclusion of Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) in higher education. Research has shown that an ARG can support the induction and socialisation of students but engagement in educational ARGs has been disappointing. We explored whether students could learn via an ARG embedded in curriculum: if…

Engineering and technology educators continually strive for realistic, hands-on laboratory exercises to enhance their students' learning. This research describes the redesign of an undergraduate introductory computer networking course to include new weekly virtual laboratory assignments that culminate in a 'real world' final project of configuring…

3D holograms are an effective tool for visualization, and their utilization in chemistry teaching can be beneficial in improving learning outcomes. However, studies on students' opinions about holograms in chemistry teaching and learning are scarce. The research aimed to examine the views of chemistry students on the application of 3D holograms in…

The capstone course for many Earth Science programs is a field course. To increase accessibility and to create a substitute in light of the cancellation of in-person courses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed an online introductory field geology course. The course consisted of six different modules. The first was a virtual reality room,…

This Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) study examined whether undergraduate business students reported having different attitudes towards poverty after completing SPENT. SPENT is an open-access, digital poverty simulation offered through Urban Ministries of Durham. The author used the Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach (Braun &…

It is essential for introductory level chemistry students to understand atomic models and how atoms interact to form chemical bonds. The tactile model in this article utilizes marbles to represent subatomic particles, a cup to represent the nucleus and wooden rings to simulate the electron orbitals. These inexpensive items can be combined to…

Group composition presents a compelling, significant, and timely topic for educators, given the widespread use of group assignments in today's pedagogical models. This paper adopts a Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) as a systematic approach to investigate the conditions for high learning performance in marketing simulations. We…

Virtual field trips are transforming education in biology and other place-based disciplines -- and not just since COVID-19 has imposed social distancing constraints. Efficient methods for content creation, combined with affordable immersive technology, provide the opportunity to integrate immersive experiences into ever-larger classes. However,…

Many education researchers have advocated grounding abstract mathematical and scientific concepts in students' lived experiences, environmental interactions, and perceptions. This dissertation explores the causal effects of various grounding strategies in instructional settings, specifically on the topic of statistical sampling. The first chapter…