VR-COM

Social-motivational effect of virtual reality in distance learning education

Project leader: Dr. Alžběta Šašinková

VR-COM:

The project aims at the possibilites of innovative use of virtual reality (VR) in a novel context: in active collaboration in a virtual environment to enhance community building, which should enrich distance learning programmes by a social dimension they typically lack. This expectedely results in a decrease in drop-out rates.

Empirical validation

Validation of the influence of collaborative VR on developing a social connectedness among distance programmes students;

VR toolbox

Building and designing a VR toolbox for community development of distance learners

Network of academic institutions

Create a network of academic institutions offering distance learning programmes that are willing to employ VR for raising social cohesion among the students, and potentially collaborate within or outside Czechia.

The project responds to the essential issues related to distance learning through digital technologies, which is becoming increasingly important. A number of tools and tutorials are available for the transfer and validation of knowledge, the gamification of the learning process or group work during lessons, the development of which was necessitated by the pandemic.

However, the topic of community building, healthy relationships and the development of learners' social capital, which is crucial for higher education, is still a sore spot in digital education that cannot be easily healed. If VR technology can be implemented in distance education, we can expect digital education to move closer to traditional education in aspects where it lags behind.

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The essence of the project

  1. The project is based on cognitive psychological and information science research of the emerging community of students of the undergraduate distance learning programme Design of Information Services.
  2. We draw on our experience of using VR for thematic learning in geography and languages and the development of thematic and curriculum-related lessons.
  3. Our goal is to develop a SW solution that enables socialization activities, with emphasis on functions supporting communication and social activities, develops cohesion within study groups, and enables the building of a professional community including lecturers/lecturers and other practitioners, as deficiencies in the social dimensions of distance learning are among the identified key causes of dropout

More about eDive software Become part of the research

Mgr. Alžběta Šašinková, Ph.D.

Principle investigator

Phone: +420 549 49 5499
E‑mail:
social and academic networks:

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Project phases

  • Preparation of research tools and selection of software platforms January 1 2024
  • Extensive collection of qualitative and quantitative data, including processing and development of methodology January 1 2025
  • Creation of the final version of the application and publication of the research findings in peer-reviewed journals (knowledge dissemination) January 1 2026

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