Fit VR learning applications to a specific target audience and support learners with little prior knowledge¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Because school type, rather than test condition, determined how effective the VR application was at fostering knowledge, interest, and attitude, the authors recommend that developers design for a specific audience and lower the entry barrier. They write that "Future applications should be fitted to a more specific target audience. Another possibility would be making applications more accessible to groups with little to no prior knowledge." They also suggest testing VR applications in shorter time frames than the 90-minute lessons used here, and providing teachers with more supporting materials to aid students while they learn with the application.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Developers must know the target audience's prior knowledge and school type; teachers need supporting materials and adequate time structures for the application to work as intended.

Constraints¶

• The combined-school group seemed to struggle with the application, possibly because lack of prior knowledge combined with unfamiliarity of the new technology creates too steep a learning curve.

Target Learners¶

• Secondary school students across German school types, especially those with little to no prior knowledge

Target Learning Goals¶

• Sustainability and biodiversity learning outcomes, including knowledge, interest, and pro-environmental attitudes

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Mulders, M., Träg, K. H., & Kirner, L. (2025). Go green: evaluating an XR application on biodiversity in German secondary school classrooms. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-024-09697-1