As the number and complexity of instructional tools have increased, universities have rapidly adapted to ensure their students have the necessary tools and resources for academic success (Rafi et al., 2014; Rafi et al., 2020). One of these adaptations has been the creation of virtual learning platforms using Virtual Reality (VR) technology. This…

This dissertation examines the affective qualities of non-player character motion in a Virtual Reality (VR) cognitive training game, their impact on players' core affective experiences, game performance, and cognitive training outcomes. How do the movements of game characters in a VR environment affect players' experienced emotions, gameplay…

Both fashion design and education are areas where new technologies can have a significant impact. This dissertation examines the potential of virtual reality (VR) for fashion design education and focused on the profound affordances that virtual reality offers - immersion and agency. Using a phenomenological approach, the study combined arts-based…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational design dissertation was to determine if, and to what extent, a relationship existed between Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Control Training System (AJTS) users' perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and intention to use AJTS. AJTS is a virtual reality simulation-based training system. Three…

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the education of nursing students across the world. Nursing students were unable to care for patients with COVID-19 at the beginning and potentially throughout nursing school depending on the facility and nursing school restrictions. It was not known how the participation in a high-fidelity simulation will impact the…

The purpose of this study was to analyze the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) employment in airline pilot training. Specifically, this study conducted an experiment that introduced VR equipment into the Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) course in the United Kingdom (UK). Increasing pilot throughput in airline pilot training is critical as demands for…

Scientific disciplines including mathematics, physics, and chemistry tend to adopt online resources, including websites and web applications, to demonstrate physical experiments and simulate scientific phenomena that are hard to observe and investigate in real world. The present study examined the existing collections of the websites and web…

This exploratory sequential mixed methods study explored how African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic, and Native American (ALANA) students develop a sense of belonging within higher education at one private, Predominantly White Institution (PWIs) within the United States when co-curricular programs are offered within the…

Recent advancements in the cost, availability, and capability of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices and software are spurring their mass distribution to the public. This fundamental shift in the use of AR and VR predominantly from military and academic research laboratories to the public presents new opportunities and…

A challenge for the virtual reality (VR) industry is facing is that VR is not immersive enough to make people feel a genuine sense of presence: the low frame rate leads to dizziness and the lack of human body visualization limits the human-computer interaction. In this dissertation, I present our research on enhancing visual and gestural fidelity…

Producing competent graduate advanced practice nurses who will be able to function in the current healthcare environment requires a quality education with the development of critical thinking through experiential learning. Simulation in undergraduate education has been extensively studied and shown to enhance the quality of nursing education. The…

The introduction of low-cost hand-held devices has provided K-12 educators with the opportunity to teach using virtual reality (VR). However, the efficacy of VR in K-12 classrooms for teaching and learning has not been established. Therefore, the purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the influence of virtual reality field trips…

Virtual worlds are innovative teaching and learning methods that can provide immersive and engaging learning experiences (Lu, 2010). Though they have potential benefits, students sometimes experience a steep learning curve and discomfort with the technology (Warburton, 2009). This study explored how students in two American Studies classes using…

The purpose of this study was to determine if students learn clinical judgment as effectively using computer-based simulations as when using high-fidelity mannequin simulations. There was a single research questions for this study: What is the difference in clinical judgment between participants completing high-fidelity human simulator mannequin…

The ability to perform local anesthesia on dental patients is an important clinical skill for a dental hygienist. When learning this procedure in an academic situation, students often practice on their peers to build their skills. There are multiple reasons why the peer practice is not ideal; consequently, educators have sought the means to…