Learning andragogically in a virtual reality world

Abstract

This study compared the impact of three media: book, internet and Virtual Reality (VR) to support adults learning through self direction to determine whether, against an adult learning framework, a VR system would support adults’ learning needs better than other less sophisticated media. Results from experimentation indicated that adult learners had generally high levels of dissatisfaction with books, high satisfaction with electronic web-browser type delivery media, and personal satisfaction (but not functional efficiency) in learning information through touring a virtual reality ‘world’. Web learners learned a greater volume of information than book learners who learned more than VR learners. Results from quantitative data indicate that the internet is the most effective of the three media tested to learn with. These results have significance for educators, as well as for individuals planning and designing their own learning. A model of adult, self-directed learning with VR technology was developed from findings from research and the literature.

Date of Award	2008
Original language	English
Supervisor	Peter Clayton (Supervisor), Barbara Chambers (Supervisor) & Carole Kayrooz (Supervisor)