What variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction? Results from an educational virtual reality field trip

Exploring the usability of educational virtual reality (VR) is essential. Research in this area can explain the adoption of VR as a new technology, contribute to examining paths toward effective learning, and provide recommendations for effective educational design. This study investigated usability...

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Main Authors: Maximilian C. Fink, Volker Eisenlauer, Bernhard Ertl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Computers & Education: X Reality
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949678023000375
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author Maximilian C. Fink
Volker Eisenlauer
Bernhard Ertl
author_facet Maximilian C. Fink
Volker Eisenlauer
Bernhard Ertl
author_sort Maximilian C. Fink
collection DOAJ
description Exploring the usability of educational virtual reality (VR) is essential. Research in this area can explain the adoption of VR as a new technology, contribute to examining paths toward effective learning, and provide recommendations for effective educational design. This study investigated usability in a sample of N = 64 university students learning about simplified construction engineering topics from an interactive VR field trip. Two research objectives were pursued. First, the level of achieved usability was examined using a mixed-methods approach, including data from semi-structured interviews and a survey on system usability and satisfaction. Second, the relationships between several connected variables (ease of use, usefulness, presence, and cognitive load) and system usability and satisfaction were investigated quantitatively. With respect to the first research objective, system usability and satisfaction were evaluated positively in the interviews and rated highly in the surveys. These results indicate that VR field trips, which are increasingly replacing excursions, are regarded as an appropriate instructional method. Concerning the second research objective, ease of use, usefulness, presence, and extraneous load were found to predict system usability. Further, the factors of usefulness, presence, and intrinsic cognitive load helped explain the variance in satisfaction. These findings highlight that the variables connected to system usability and satisfaction in VR learning vary. In addition to these and other theoretical implications, practical implications and recommendations for educational design are discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-f3ca526a1e664f8ca8d9bb30f9fdc9b32024-01-25T05:24:55ZengElsevierComputers & Education: X Reality2949-67802023-12-013100043What variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction? Results from an educational virtual reality field tripMaximilian C. Fink0Volker Eisenlauer1Bernhard Ertl2Corresponding author.; Universität der Bundeswehr München, Department of Human Sciences, Learning and Teaching with Media, Neubiberg, GermanyUniversität der Bundeswehr München, Department of Human Sciences, Learning and Teaching with Media, Neubiberg, GermanyUniversität der Bundeswehr München, Department of Human Sciences, Learning and Teaching with Media, Neubiberg, GermanyExploring the usability of educational virtual reality (VR) is essential. Research in this area can explain the adoption of VR as a new technology, contribute to examining paths toward effective learning, and provide recommendations for effective educational design. This study investigated usability in a sample of N = 64 university students learning about simplified construction engineering topics from an interactive VR field trip. Two research objectives were pursued. First, the level of achieved usability was examined using a mixed-methods approach, including data from semi-structured interviews and a survey on system usability and satisfaction. Second, the relationships between several connected variables (ease of use, usefulness, presence, and cognitive load) and system usability and satisfaction were investigated quantitatively. With respect to the first research objective, system usability and satisfaction were evaluated positively in the interviews and rated highly in the surveys. These results indicate that VR field trips, which are increasingly replacing excursions, are regarded as an appropriate instructional method. Concerning the second research objective, ease of use, usefulness, presence, and extraneous load were found to predict system usability. Further, the factors of usefulness, presence, and intrinsic cognitive load helped explain the variance in satisfaction. These findings highlight that the variables connected to system usability and satisfaction in VR learning vary. In addition to these and other theoretical implications, practical implications and recommendations for educational design are discussed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949678023000375Virtual realityUsabilitySatisfactionCognitive load
spellingShingle Maximilian C. Fink
Volker Eisenlauer
Bernhard Ertl
What variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction? Results from an educational virtual reality field trip
Computers & Education: X Reality
Virtual reality
Usability
Satisfaction
Cognitive load
title What variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction? Results from an educational virtual reality field trip
title_full What variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction? Results from an educational virtual reality field trip
title_fullStr What variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction? Results from an educational virtual reality field trip
title_full_unstemmed What variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction? Results from an educational virtual reality field trip
title_short What variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction? Results from an educational virtual reality field trip
title_sort what variables are connected with system usability and satisfaction results from an educational virtual reality field trip
topic Virtual reality
Usability
Satisfaction
Cognitive load
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949678023000375
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