Learning in 3D: creating virtual reality environments

This study investigated the understudied area of virtual reality (VR) creation among elementary-aged youth, exploring their engagement in VR creation and the ways in which educators can facilitate this creative process. Using an embedded case study, the researcher examined how the youth visualize writing using the VR creation tool, CoSpaces. To answer the research questions, 13 youth in grades three to five and one instructor participated in observations, focus groups, and interviews. The findings show that a “community of learners” developed in which the youth and adults engaged in dynamic learning to create immersive, interactive VR scenes that effectively visually represent their writing and provided the youth with ideas to improve their writing. Furthermore, the youth were actively engaged and expressed pleasure in the activity. The findings of the study support the view that VR creation can be an effective tool for learning in the elementary classroom.